US2584764A - Circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 5, 1952 J. M. WALLACE 2,584,764

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTEP.

Original Filed July l2, 1940 2 SHEETS-SHEET l .james/14. WQ//ace f3 7. m

Feb. 5, 1952 J. M. WALLACE 2,584,764

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER original Filed July 12, 1940 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 17a Z- 74 ee 99 \70 WITNESSES: INVENTOR 5% .famef M No //ace BY Y @Y W Patented Feb. 5, 19,52

CIRCUIT IN TERRPTER.

James M.' Wallace, Braddock, Pa., asslgnor to WestinghouseifElectric Corporation, acorporation of Pennsylvaniar Original application July 12, 1940SerialjNo. 345,051, now Patent "No. 2,449,867;fdated;Sep-4 temberZl; 1948;l Divided andrthis*applicationi Marchfl; 1945',y Serial No. 582,829'2 34 Claims. (Cl. 20D- 89) This invention comprisesa division'ofsmycopending application on. Circuit Interrupters,. Serial No. 345,051, led July12, l940,now,.Paten,t. No. 2,449,867, September 21, 1948,. and` assignedl `to the same assigneeA as this invention;

This invention relates toY circuit interrupters,... in general, and more particularly` to. circuit.

breakers of the automaticy reclosing type.

One object oi--this invention istoprovidea circuit',` breaker with novel means vfor.` automaticall'y openingand then reclo'sing its contacts a predetermined time-after the opening operation.V

ThisV invention is Vparticularly directed to vrso:-

called small oil circuit breakers of the `type wherethecircuit is interrupted-inan arcV extinguish-V ing liquid such as oil, andy where `the operating` mechanism is relativelyA simpley and compactly arranged so that the whole device` may be ar-Y ranged, preferably, in an insulating casing hav-v ing av pair of terminals, for easy and convenient;A mounting on a pole orother support vfor trans mission and distribution lines.-

Thev circuit breaker of thisvinvention vis--especially adapted forthe replacement of fusesused for the protection and maintenance ofservice on transmission lines. Suchf-a circuitvbre'aker may be mounted on the samesupport required for-` fuses, andl has they advantage over simple fuse. installations of being able to quicklyfrestore serv-4 ice on the protected line -following` self-clearing( ffaults. This type of circuit breaker hasfthefur.- ther advantage Yover all `types of-fuse structures includingv repeating fuse structures,A ofnctre` quiring the replacement of any parts following anfinterrupting operation. In fact, the circuit lthat the; first vtrippingof an automatic rreclosingg` breaker of this invention'will require substan. g

tially no attention until a permanent fault ap.-V pears on` the circuit. protected; and after such a. fault .has been cleared, only a--simplepmanuaL manipulation is, required to .restoregthetbreaker to operative condition.

Although this invention .is designedforaspe-` cic .use and vis embodied in avparticular type-tof apparatus wherein it has certain particular novell features of p combination and utility, it` will be; obvious topersons skilled in the art that certain;

features of the invention f, willbe useful in con,-

nection with other` types ofzcircuitbreakers'orinterrupters.

Another object .of this invention is toprovide in.an'automaticqreclosing typeiof circuit interrupter,` novel tripping lmeans designed .to provide different trippingv characteristics for successive` circuit opening operations of ,'the interruptor.

Itv vis*v desirable for;-vv coordination with transf Iormers, fuse linksy andy other f circuit; breakers,y

circuit breaker be .a .time=de1ayedftrip,-. especially;` on light overloads, inasmuch as such overloadsn cannot harm a.. circuit providedf they areenot -continued ytoo long. Howevergif: thenv fault; is Deve marient. thersucceedingitrips shouldffbe` subStan-z tially instantaneous to prevent damage` tothe@ circuit,` and operation ot :other :protectiveI devices.

.Another object of.. thisvinventionf is l:to provide-fy in an automatic reclosingvcircuit-breaker novel;

- means which is responsive :to:prcdeterminedfciry cuit conditions to cause l openingfof ther-:breaker contacts attdiierent :.ti'rnesafter theoccurrencee of said conditions on.. closely; -succeeding; :circuit-; interrupting. operations; respectively;

Another object :of this Linvention.- is .toA provider.y in an Vautomatic reclosing y*circuit .breakenof :thea type described 4 having ai-solenoid coil ksconnected.v in series circuit: withjxthe-breakercontacts for; causing separation-'of Ythe.;contactsl under pref determined circuit conditiona means. also1 reesponsive. to: saidi predeterminedy conditionsl for delayingl separation of lsaid contactsy onv at least l one predetermined circuit interruptingtoperationi inA any sequence of c1ose1y-,successive circuit-.,invv terrupting operations.

Another. obj ectfof this invention is to., provide f an automatic .,reclosing circuit breaker with novel means, whichl operable-.onthe.occurrence..rofv continuing predetermined ,conditions to operata =the.-breaker thro-ugh.y alsequence.v of agpred'eterf.- Amined ,number of circuit interruptingoperations.,l I'and then cause the.' breaker tof-remain :open-,witha at least `some of the circuit interrupting opera.Y tions of y such sequencefhavingf a-idifferentttime characteristic, and in the 'eventsaidconditicns clear before the end;ofsuchiasequencetof,operas`A tions, said means will automaticallyreset to'cause'. the 1 breaker to operate throughl thesame sequence .Y in the l.event said conditionsA occur 'againathatv later time; y*

Another object oi; this invention. is y-lte,provide-f an automatic fireclosing, circuit breaker ,withznovelt means: which gistoperabletont. the. occurrences. of .continuingf predetermined conditions to operata,V the breaker through a. sequence@offra` .predeterf .Y mined number ofcircuit--interruptingpperations.; and .then causetr the` breaker fto remain open, with@ at least some of the' circuit :interrupting operas tions: of f such;A sequence; havin-g` a; different time, characteristic, and having means to manuallti;L open and close-the v-breakerftcontacts arrangedfo that an interrupting" operation.- succeeding;I af., manual reclosure.y will occur vonly azrelativelylong-, time after ,theoccurrence :of'saidt-.conditions Another' object of my finventipn..fisvtoffprovide;

a circuit breaker of the type described having a novel construction and arrangement of parts such as to provide a smaller, lighter, and more economical breaker than has heretofore been deemed practical.

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

Figure 1 is a substantiallycentral longitudinal sectional view through a circuit interrupter constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the upper end of the interrupter shown in Fig. 1, and illustrating certain parts of the operating mechanism in elevation and in a position corresponding to an open position of the interrupter;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view partly in section of the operating mechanism shown in Fig. 2 and taken substantially along the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the upper end of the interrupter shown in Fig. l with certain of the parts shown at a slightly different position; and

Fig. 5 is a partial substantially central crosssectional view of the interrupter as shown in Fig. 1 with the section taken substantially at right angles to the section of Fig. 1.

In general, my invention is embodied in a circuit interrupter having a pair of separable contacts whcih are initially separated a distance sufficient to draw an arc between the contacts in an arc chamber, which chamber is designed to be lled with an arc-extinguishing medium such as oil or the like, and the contacts are arranged so that the pressure generated by the arc and due to the decomposition of the oil operates to further separate the contacts against the bias of a spring which normally maintains the contacts closed. As soon as the arc is extinguished, the spring is then free to reclose the contacts, but its action is retarded by a time delay means operable only when the contacts are closing. This time delay means is related to the contact closing means in such a manner as to permit a predetermined number of successive reclosures. For example, upon the occurrence of a permanent fault on the line the time delay means will act to lock or maintain the contacts in an open position following a predetermined number of reclosures thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, a movable contact is mechanically moved by a spring or other biasing means a short distance in response to operation of current responsive latch means for the biasing means. My invention further contemplates the use of a pair of latch means for the mechanical contact tripping means, with each latching means being operable in response to predetermined current conditions in a circuit and having different time characteristics. These latch means are so arranged that successive interrupting operations of the circuit breaker without appreciable time between successive interruptions, for example, as on the occurrence of a permanent fault in the circuit, will occur with different time characteristics.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a circuit breaker contained in an insulating tubular casing 2, which may be of any desired insulating material, such as porcelain, glass, or the like. The casing 2, as shown in Fig. 1, has a closed bottom end portion and an open top. The open top is provided with an upper terminal cover assembly 4, and the closed bottom of the casing is provided with a lower terminal assembly 6. An intermediate portion on the casing has a substantially cylindrical wall portion 8 upon which is mounted a cushioning sleeve I0 of rubber, fiber or the like, and on opposite sides of which may be clamped supporting brackets I2 (only one of which is shown), as by bolts I4. The outer end of bracket I2 may be turned laterally at I1 and apertured as at I6 for the reception of a bolt for securing the brackets in position on a pole or other supporting structure.

The lower terminal assembly 6 is mounted at the closed bottom portion of the insulating casing 2 by means of a bolt I8 extending through an aperture I9 in the closed end of the casing 2, and the bolt is provided with an enlarged disclike head portion 20 positioned within the casing 2, with packing material 22 interposed between the head 2U and the adjacent inner surface of the closed end of the insulating casing 2. The packing material 22 may be of any desired packing materia-l, preferably one resistant to oil, such for example. as cork, fiber, or synthetic rubber. Bolt I8 has a bore I5 therethrough, the outer end of which is closed by a threaded plug 2 I, for the purpose of draining casing 2 when desired. The bolt I8 is secured in position by a nut 24 drawn up on the bolt against a washer 25 positioned between the nut 24 and the outer wall of the closed end of the casing 2. A terminal strap 28 may be also secured to the bolt I8 as by means of a second nut 30, as shown.

The upper terminal assembly 4 is in the form of a cover for the open end of the casing 2, which not only acts as a cap or cover for the casing, but, as will be hereinafter more fully explained, acts as a support for the interrupter and its operating mechanism when in operative position within the casing 2. Referring to Figs. l and 5, it will be noted that the cover 32 is provided with a transversely extending hollow portion for the reception of certain parts of the circuit breaker operating mechanism, and the top wall of which is provided with an aperture for the reception of a screw threaded filler plug 34, so that the supply of arc-extinguishing fluid within the casing 2 may be renewed when necessary. The cover 32 includes a peripheral flange portion 38 adapted to seat on the upper end walls of casing 2, and this flange has at its outer edge a downwardly turned lip portion 38, for properly positioning the cover on the open end of the casing 2. Packing material 40 is interposed between the cover and the open end of the casing similar to the packing material 22, and the cover 32 is secured to the casing 2 by means of a support 42 fxedly mounted on the outside of the casing 2. The support 42 is in the form of an annulus which is substantially channel-shaped in cross-section, with the channel facing the outer surface of casing 2. The annular support 42 is secured to the casing by cast metal or the like 44, which is poured in between the support 42 and the outer casing wall so as to enter within the channel of the support 42 and between corrugations 46 provided on the outer surface of the casing to securely anchor the support 42 thereto. I provide a plurality (only one of which is shown) of laterally extending ears 50 and 52 on the support 42 and cover flange 36, respectively, which ears are apertured for the reception of n. Abolts I8 for securing thecover to the supporting flange 42 and, therefore, to the insulating casing 2.

The insulating casing 2 may be ofV any desired shape and cross-section, preferably circular as shown, so that the hollow portion of the cover 32 described above extends substantially diametrically of the casing, and so that segmental portions of cover flange 36 extend inwardly over the open end of the casing as shown at 54 in Fig. 5. Secured to these segmental portions of the cover Ilange 36 are spaced supporting plates 56 having angularly bent ends insulatingly secured to the segments 5,4 of the cover flange 36, by machine screws 51, with interposed insulating washers 58, and insulating bushings 60. The insulating washers 5-8 and bushings 80 may be of any desired insulating material suchr as liber, or a synthetic resin' material. As shown, the supporting plates 5.6 extend substantially parallelly downwardly in the tubular insulating casing 2, and one function of these plates ist@ support a substantially closed arc chamber 62, the upper end of which is ysecured rbetween the lower ends of the supporting plates 56 in any desired manner, such, for example, as by welding or the like.

The arc chamber 62 includes an insulating tubular portion 64 which may be of any desired insulating material preferably ber or a. synthetic resin, which tube is threaded at each end thereof for the reception of upper and lower end caps 66 and 68, respectively. The upper end cap 66 is provided with an integral oiiset portion provided with a substantially cylindrical open topped cavity therein to form a dashpot cylinder 10, which will be hereinafter further described. The upper end cap 66 is also provided with an aperture l2 centrally located with respect to the tubular chamber wall t4 and through which a contact rod 14 is s lidably mounted. The contact rod [4 preferably closely slidably fits within the aperture 'l2 so that there will be substantially no leakage of pressure from the arc chamber 62 at lthis point. The contact rod 14 obviously may be constructed 0f any desired conducting material, such., for example1 es Copper or a @Opper alloy- The 0,011- tact rod 'I4 is provided adjacent its lower end with peripherally spaced, longitudinally extending grooves 16, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

TheV upper end of the movable contact rod |14 is provided with a pivot pin 18 extending transversely therethrough with the ends thereof extending beyond the rod 14 to be sl-idably received in guide slots 80 extending longitudinallyof the arc chamber supporting plates 56, to thereby guide the upper end of the movable Contact rod '|4- for substantially rectilinear movement. An insulating link 82 is pivotally. mounted on pivot pin 'I8 at one end thereof, and the other end is pivotally connected as bya pivot pin 84 to one end of a crank lever 36. The insulating link 82I may be of any desired insulating material, such, for example, asiiber, a synthetic resin or the like. The crank lever 8,6 is fixed on an operating shaft 88, the opposite ends of which are journalled in opposte'sides or the hollow portion of the cover 3 2, with one end of the operating shaft 88 extending through the cover wall to have xedly mounted thereon a manual operating handle 90 having a down- Werdlr extending, operating portion 9.2. adapted to be engaged by manualY operating means,

such, for example, as a hook stick or the like. The crank lever 86 is normally biased for movement in a. counterclockw-ise direction about the axis of operating shaft 88, bya coil spring 94 coiled about the operating shaft 88, and having opposite ends thereof 96 land 98, engaged with portions of cover 32 and crank lever 85, respectively. This biasing action of coil spring 94 obviously tends to maintain the movable contact rodf in a position adjacent the bottom of the are chamber 62.

Time delay and lockout mechanism for the circuit breaker contacts are provided for delaying the closing time of the contacts under the influence of c oil spring 94 and for maintaining thev contacts out of engagement after a predetermined number of quickly succeedingcircuit in terrupting operations. The time delay means for the contact closing operation utilizes the dashpot cylinder l0 provided integral with the upper end cap 66 of the arc chamber. This cylinder 10 is adapted to receive a pistOn member 95 having some slight clearance in the cylinder, so as to permit the escape of fluid trapped between the piston 95 and the bottom of the cylinder at a predetermined relatively slow rate. As shown, the lower portion of the piston 95 is hollowed out as at 91 vfor the reception of a coil compression spring seated at one end on a metal washer |0| on the bottom of the cylinder 10, and the other end of spring 99 bears against a similar washer |03, providedat the top of the hollow portion 9i' in the piston. The spring 99 obviously functions to normally maintain the piston in an extended position with respect to the cylindrical portion '|0, normally the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. 'I'he piston 95 is preferably of insulating material. such, for example, as fiber or a synthetic resin material.

A pair of ratchet links |00 have one end thereof pivotally mounted at opposite sides of the upper end of piston member 95, as by the pivot pin |02. The other ends of ratchet links |00 are connected by means of a guide pin |04, and one longitudinally extending edge of each ratchet link |00 is provided with a series of notches |06, for cooperation with a pawl to be described. A pawl link |08 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot ||0, through which extends the guide pin |04, for guiding the pawl link`| 08 for movement with respect to the ratchet links |00. The pawl link |08., as shown, is located between the ratchet links |00, and has secured to opposite edges adjacent the lower end thereof, as shown in Fig. l, by welding or the like, a stop bar 2 and a pawl bar ||4, respectively. The stop and pawl bars ||2 and ||4, respectively, act to limit pivotal motion of the pawl link |08 about guide pin |04 `with respect to ratchet links |00, and longitudinal movement of the pawl link with respect to the ratchet links is limited, of course, by the extent of guide slot H0. The upper end of pawl link |08 is pivotally mounted between a pair ofl crank arms IIB by a bolt H3 extending therethrough, which bolt is provided with resilient, substantially cup-shaped washers |20 at each end thereof, to provide a irictional pivotal connection between the crank arms l I6 and the pawl link |08. The crank arms i6, as shown, are secured to opposite sides of the crank lever 86, for example, as by welding or the like, so as to move therewith. The iiange 36 of cover 32, as shown in Fig. 1, is provided with an integral downwardly extending lip portion which extends downwardly along the inner wall of the insulating casing 2 to support an adjustable stop screw H9 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

In the operation of the mechanism described above, assuming that the movable contact rod 14 is moved upwardly in response to an overload or other fault condition occurring in the circuit, it is obvious that crank lever 86 will be moved in a clockwise direction, thereby stressing coil spring 94, and also causing movement of the crank arms HB in a clockwise direction. Because of the frictional pivot H8 between the crank arms HS and the pawl link |08, the stop bar H2 on the link will be maintained in engagement with the smooth edge of ratchet links |00. Dashpot piston 95 will remain substantially in the position shown in Fig. 1, andthe pawl link |08 will be withdrawn from between the ratchet links |00. This movement continues until the end of the opening movement of contact rod 14. When the opening means is no longer eifective, obviously, coil spring 90 can then operate to move the crank lever 88 in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of shaft 88 to move the contact rod 14 downwardly, and to move the crank levers H6 in a counterclockwise direction. This movement of the crank levers H6 will also move the pawl lever |08 through frictional pivot H8, to bring the pawl bar H4 into engagement with one of the notches |06 in the ratchet levers |00. This position of these levers is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, wherein the pawl bar H4 is shown as in engagement with the second notch from the lower end of the ratchet links |00. As shown in Fig. 2, the guide pin |04 is in a position just below the upper end of the guide slot H in the pawl link |00. Continued movement of the crank lever 80 under the iniiuence of coil spring 94 will tend to straighten the toggle formed by crank arms H0 and links |00 and |08 and thereby move the dashpot piston 95 a predetermined distance downwardly into the dashpot cylinder 10. This movement will be relatively slow due to the opposition offered by the dashpot piston and cylinder, and due to the fact that the toggle formed by crank arms H6 and links |00 and |08 is at the beginning of this movement, a considerable distance away from dead-center position. The resistance offered by the dashpot piston and cylinder, of course, is due to the necessity of displacing the oil entrapped in the dashpot cylinder 10 through the small clearance existing between the dashpot piston 95 and the inner wall of the cylinder 10. However, as closing movement of the mechanism proceeds further, the toggle mentioned above approaches its dead-center position, and, consequently, less force need be applied to this toggle because as the lower limit of movement is approached, the dashpot piston 05 is moved a lesser extent for the same amount of rotating movement of operating shaft 88. Inasmuch as the closing force exerted by coil spring 94 is constant, it is obvious that the speed of closing movement is relatively slow at first due to the position of the toggle previously mentioned, but speeds up as it approaches the closed position shown in Fig. l, because the toggle approaches its dead-center position. This action will enable the circuit breaker contacts to go into final closed position with substantially a snap action, which is obviously desirable, to reduce arcing when the contacts are closed.

It will be noted that as the crank arms H6 and pawl and ratchet links |00 and |08 approach the position shown in Fig. 1, that these links gd into and past their dead-center positions, and this latter movement serves to bring the righthand edge of pawl link |08 as seen in Fig. 1 into engagement with the adjustable stop screw H9, and thereby force the pawl bar H4 out of the notch |06 in which it had been engaged, and thereby release the dashpot piston 95 to permit it to begin its upward travel to normal position under the influence of spring 99.

When the parts have reached the position shown in Fig. l, which corresponds to the closed circuit position of the breaker, if the fault on the line has not been cleared, movable contact rod 'Hl will substantially immediately be caused to move upwardly again to open the circuit. This will cause the parts to move as before, excepting that when the upper position of the contact rod 10 is reached, or when the limit of clockwise rotation of the crank lever 86 is attained, and the reverse or closing movement begins, pawl bar I4 will engage the third notch from the bottom of the ratchet levers |00. This is because of the length of time required for spring 99 to move dashpot piston 95 upwardly, so that it will not have attained its normal extended position shown in Fig. 1 by the time the breaker starts to reclose on a second substantially immediately succeeding reclosure. With the pawl bar I4 engaged in the third notch in the ratchet levers, the parts will then procede to reclose as before, with the dashpot piston 95 this time being forced a further distance into the dashpot cylinder 10. If the fault still remains on the circuit, the circuit breaker will again open and reclose in the manner described above, except that this time the pawl bar H4 will be engaged in the next succeeding higher notch in the ratchet links |00 and, accordingly, the dashpot piston 95 will be pushed a greater distance into the dashpot cylinder 10. 1f the fault still has not been cleared, the movable contact rod 14 will again move upwardly to interrupt the circuit, and this time upon attempted reclosure, the pawl bar H4 will engage in the upper notch in the ratchet links |00, and counterclockwise movement of the crank lever 86 will be arrested after a slight movement, due to the dashpot piston 95 striking the bottom of dashpot cylinder 10, and the movable contact rod 14 will thereby be locked or maintained in an open position.

There is described above, a lockout means which operates to maintain the circuit breaker contacts open after three closely successive reclosures of the contacts. This number has been chosen because it has been found that the great majority of faults which are self-clearing will clear in the time necessary for two or three successive reclosures of my breaker. However, it is obvious that any desired number of reclosures may be provided before the breaker locks out, merely by adjusting the dimensions of the dashpot cylinder and piston, and providing an appropriate number of notches in pawl links |00.

To reset the breaker after the contact rod 14 has been locked out and maintained in an upper position, it is merely necessary to rotate the manual operating handle 90 in a clockwise direction about the axis of shaft 88. A very slight rotation of the crank lever 86 by virtue of the frictional pivot H8, will cause pawl bar H4 to disengage the upper notch |06. It will be noted that this operation is easily accomplished because the only load on the pawl bar HA is the relatively light spring load 09, and this load will not even be present if the operating. rod -90 is moved quickly. With pawl ||4-disengaged :from the upper notch |06, davshpotr piston 95-is free to move upwardly and in a very short time (the time required for the piston totravel the distance between adjacent notches |06), the operating lever 86 can be released, and the entire mechanism will operate to reclosethe movable contact 14 by moving it downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 in the manner describedabove.

Obviously, if the fault clears after the first or second closely succeeding interrupting operation, and the circuit is reclosed, Athe vdashpot `piston 95 will be moved upwardly after a predetermined time by the coil spring 99 to its Vnormal position shown in Fig. 1, and the contactsv will, therefore, be locked open only after three closely successive interrupting operations, and will never bev locked open irrespective of the number of time-spaced interruptions.

Referring to Fig. of .the drawings,it will be apparent that cover 32 for interrupter casing V2 is provided with an angle piece |58, one leg'of which is secured to ange 36 of the cover as by screws |60, and the other leg of which has secured thereto, as by welding or' the like, a conductor terminal socket |62, having a clamping screw |64 threadedly engaged through the outer wall thereof to clamp a conductor in the socket |62.

Contact lrod 14 is adaptedto be moved upwardly'a small amount by a spring which is normally held against operation by current responsive means, and'pressure developed by the arc in the arc chamber is then relied upon to continue upward movement of the contact rodto its fully open position. 'This arrangement' ,is the joint invention of H. L. `Rawlins and myself and is disclosed and claimed in our v,Patent No. 2,318,421, issued May 4, 1943, on an application which was copending with my aforesaid application of which this application is a division, and said patent being assigned to the same assignee as this invention.

In the constructon of theA aforesaid Rawlins et al. patent, an operating lever |18 is provided for initially moving the contact rod 1'4 upwardly a short distance to establish an arc within the arc chamber 62. This operating lever is substantially hook-shaped in form and is pivotally mounted adjacent the point of the rhook onr a pivot pin |12, mounted between the supporting plates for the arc chamber 62. vA coil spring |14 is provided about the pivot pin |12', and has one end thereof |18 engagingwith the upper' end cap 66 of the arc chamber; and the other end thereof |16 is engagedv with a part of the operating lever |10 extendingibeyond the pivot |12, to continuously bias the oper'- ating lever |10'for rotationy aboutits pivot pin |12 in a counterclockwise direction. As shown, the pivot pin 18-joining the upper'end'of contact rod 1'4' and insulating link'82 is' received substantially in the bight portion oftheV operating lever |10, so that it is engaged bythe lever' when the lever is moved by springt" fromv thefpositlon shown in Fig. 5, to thereby move the contact rod 14 upwardly aslight distance against the bias ci. spring 94. The upper end of the operating lever |10 is provided with a projecting. catch portion |80 secured between insulatingplates to the upper end of' the: trip levenfor example, as by rivets; |10. Thei construction of the operating lever and its operation is more fully described, and claimed, in the above-mentioned Rawlins et al. patent.

In accordancerwith this invention, rone leg of a ueshaped iron yoke I8| is securedto the top wall of the interrupter cover 32, as by machine screws |83, and a solenoid coil |82 is mounted between the legs of the yoke |8| for cooperation with a plunger |84 of magnetic material, such, for example, as iron or the like, slidably mounted in the coil'and provided with a hollow upper end portion |86, for reception of a coil compression spring |88. The other endkof spring |88 is received in a stationary sleeve |90 secured to the upper leg of yoke |8|, and which also acts to guide the upper endof plunger |84 which is telescopically mounted with respect to guidesleeve |90. The outer end r.of solenoid plunger |84 is reduced in cross section to providega stop shoulder |92 for engagement with the lowerlegoi yoke |81 adjacent aperture |94 therein Aand through which extends the reduced lower endlof the solenoid plunger. Obviously, coil spring |38 normally functions to maintain theplunger |84 in its outer position shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Beilow the yoke |8| the plunger is further'reduced in section to :form a latch portion |96, which'li'n thenormal extended Vpositionof the plunger exL tends into the path of movement of operating lever |10 under the iniiuence of spring |14.

A bimetal strip 200 has one end thereof vsecured to ilange 33 of cover 32, as by screws |98, and the other end thereof is provided' with a transversely extending 4adjustable latch portion 202, which is adjustable kby virtue of being threadedly engaged in an aperture through the free end of the bimetal strip 200. The'bimetal strip 200 is constructed in a manner well known in the art, of at least two laminations intimately secured together as by welding or the like, which laminations are of materials having different coefficients of expansion. Thus, as shown, the upper lamination of bimetal strip 200 should be of a material having a relatively low coefiicient of expansion, such as steel or the like, and the lower lamination should be of a material having a relatively higher coeicient of expansion, such as brass or the like, so that when the stripbe' comes heated, the outerV end thereof will deect upwardly to bring the latch portion y202 above the path of movement of catch portion on operating leverr |01. It will be noted that the latch portions |96 and 202 lon the solenoid plunger and bimetal strip', respectively, are relatively offset from each other along the path of movement of catch |80 on operating lever |-10 when moved in. a counterclockwise direction by coil spring |14 The reason for this will become apparent in the description of the voperation of this trip mechanism given below.

The electrical circuit through the circuit breaker proceeds from terminal socket |62 on covery 32 through cover 32, bimetal strip 200, conductor 204', solenoid coil |82,`conductor 206, to contact rod 14', and thence to the lower fixed contact of the breaker and the lower breaker terminal in a manner fully described inthe previously mentioned copending application. It can be seen then, that thefbimetal strip 200 and solenoid coil |82 are connected in series in the circuit through the circuit breaker shown in Figs. 5 and 6. d

The lower end cap 68 for interrupter chamber 82 is provided with a substantially central bore |22 in the inner end of which is threaded a contactplug. |24 for engagement with the lower end of contact rod 14. A valve washer |26 isv adapted to be held into engagement with the lower end of contact.l plug,v |24 by a coil compression spring l 1 |28 reacting between the Washer and a shoulder provided in bore |22, to normally close the central passage through contact; plug |24. The outer end of bore |22 is reduced as at |30, to provide the shoulder. for supporting spring |28.

A coil compression spring |32 of a resilient conducting material, such as a copper alloy or the like, reacts between head of terminal bolt I8, and a shoulder provided on the outside of lower` terminal cap 88, to electrically connect terminal cap 88 with terminal bolt |8. Terminal cap 88 is provided with inlet passages |34 adapted to be controlled by an annular check valve disk |38.

In the operation of the interrupter chamber, it will be observed that when contact rod 14 is moved upwardly a small amount by lever |10, an arc will be struck between the lower end of the rod and contact plug |24, and this arc will create pressure within interrupter chamber 82 which will be confined therein, because check valve disk |38 will be forced to seat on inlet passages |34. The pressure thus created within the interrupter chamber acts on contact rod 14 in a piston-like manner to force it outwardly of the chamber, and consequently away from contact plug |24, to further increase the gap between the contacts. The gases created by the are will be vented from chamber 82 when contact rod 14 has separated from contact plug |24 a distance sufcient to cause the upper end of grooves 18 to be positioned above the upper terminal cap 86, and the escape of such gases will be assisted by the inflow of fresh fluid from container 2 through inlet passage |34 in the lower terminal gap by displacement of check valve disk |38.

Upon the occurrence of an overload, solenoid coil |82 is instantly energized and draws plunger |84 upwardly against spring |88, thereby lifting the plunger latch |86 away from catch |80 on operating lever |10. The operating lever will then rotate counterclockwise under the influence of its spring |14, about pivot |12, until catch |80 strikes latch 202 on the bimetal strip 200, as shown in Fig. 4. This travel obviously will be very short, and, of course, will not be suillcient 'l to move the contact rod 14 upwardly out of engagement with the fixed contact of the breaker, and the breaker will not be tripped. The overload current also passing through bimetal strip 200 causes it to gradually heat up, and after a predetermined time, it will deflect upwardly until its latch projection 202 releases the catch |80 on operating lever |10, to permit the operating level` to rotate to the extreme limit of its travel. thereby raising the contact rod 14 sufficiently to establish an arc in the arc chamber 82, and the pressure of the arc gases will then operate in the manner previously described, to move the contact rod 14 upwardly an amountI sufficient to extinguish the arc, and thereby interrupt the circuit. As fully explained in my previously mentioned patent, travel of contact rod 14 upwardly by the pressure developed in arc chamber 82 causes pivot pin 18 to engage the adjacent-J edge of operating lever |10 to rotate the same back to the position shown in Fig. l, and thereby enable it to reset on latch projection |96 of the solenoid plunger which will be projected outwardly by spring |88 as soon as the circuit is interrupted within arc chamber 82. This will occur substantially instantaneously after tripping, but at this time the bimetal strip VV200 will not have cooled sufllciently to allow its latch projection 202 to move back downwardly into Vthe path of movement of the catch |80. The solenoid plunger |84, however, will reset to the position shown in Fig. 1 substantially as quickly as the breaker contact rod pivot pin 18 can reset operating lever |10. This resetting action will move the operating lever catch to the right of solenoid latch |06 andthe operating lever will be latched in this position, although the bimetal is not in a latching position. After the breaker contact 14 has moved to the upper limit of its travel and the circuit has been interrupted within the arc chamber 62, it is moved downwardly to then reclose the circuit through the breaker, by coil spring 84, with a time delay caused by the dashpot in the manner previously described. If the breaker closes in on a short circuit or an overload which has not cleared, it will be tripped out substantially immediately by solenoid coil |82. The bimetal latch 202 will not prevent this tripping because it is still in a tripped or heated position. This will also be true for the second or third tripping, if the breaker does not close back in on a normal circuit after the second or third reclosure. If, however, the circuit is cleared after the second or third reclosure, the bimetal strip 200 will gradually cool and resume the position shown in Fig. l, so that at some later time when an overload comes upon the circuit, it will then trip the circuit breaker with thermal time lag characteristics as it did the first time.

It can be readily seen from the foregoing that this invention provides means for tripping an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, which has thermal time lag characteristics upon the first operation thereof, and magnetic or instantaneous characteristics upon each succeeding operation unless a considerable time elapses between such operations. Furthermore. it will be noted that after an automatic lockout operation of the breaker and subsequent manual reclosure thereof which has permitted the bimetal element to cool down and return to its original position, the inrush of current due to starting of apparatus connected in the circuit will not cause an opening of the circuit breaker even though the value of this initial current surge is greater than normal load current, because the bimetal element will delay such a first circuit interrupting operation long enough to permit such a current surge to be dissipated.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that this invention also lprovides a novel type of automatic reclosing circuit breaker which is adapted to automatically reclose .a circuit following an interrupting operation a predetermined number of times, and then lock the circuit breaker contacts. in an open circuit position. According to the invention, the pressure caused by the arc gases is confined in an arc chamber to open the circuit breaker contacts, and there is specifically disclosed two different species of tripping means for initially separating the contacts suiciently to establish an arc in such an arc chamber.

Although the trip mechanisms disclosed, the arcing chamber and contact operating mechanisms are all disclosed in a single unitary structure wherein they have particular features of novelty and cooperation, it will be obvious that these and other features of my invention may also be used separately or in connection with other circuit breaker constructions.

Having described preferred embodiments of my invention in accordance with the patent statutes, it'is desired that the invention be interpreted as broadly as possible and not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, inasmuch as it will be obvious, particularly to persons skilled in the art that many changes and modiflcations'may be made in these particular structures without de parting from the broad spirit and scope of my invention. Therefore, it is desired that this invention be not limited in any respect except as required Iby the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker, com prising, separable contacts which are biased to automatically close the circuit after a circuit opening operation, an operating lever biased to separate said contacts against the force of their closing bias, and separate relatively fast and slowly movable latch means for restraining said operating lever, both of said latch means having electroresponsive parts `responding to overloads on the circuit to release said latch means at relatively fast and slow rates, respectively, and said latch means automatically resetting in response to a circuit interrupting operation at said corresponding rates.

' 2. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, an operating member biased for movement in one direction to Aeffect an interrupting operation of the breaker, latching means for said member including separate time delay and substantially instantaneous current responsive retractible latches, respectively, said latches having provision for automatic resetting in response to interruption of current ilow with said instantaneous latch resetting at a substantially faster rate than said vtime delay latch, whereby closely Successive trippings of the breaker have diiferent characteristics.

3. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, an operating member biased for movement in one direction to effect an interrupting operation of the breaker, latching means for said member including separate time delay and substantially instantaneous current responsive retractible latches, respectively, said latches being relatively offset in the path of movement of said member in said one direction with said instantaneous latch positioned inwardly of said time lag latch to normally maintain said mem-ber against movement, said latches having provision for automatic resetting in responseto interruption of current flow with said instantaneous latch resetting at a substantially faster rate than said time delay latch, whereby upon the occurrence of a fault the breaker will be rst opened a predetermined time thereafter, and if a fault is present upon reclosure of the breaker, it will open substantially instantaneously, and if not said time delay latch will reset.

4. An automatic rec'losing circuit interruptor comprising, contact 4means for opening and closing the circuit through said interruptor, means for causing opening of said contact means includling a. plurality of electro-responsive means which operate sequentially in response to the occurrence of a predetermined circuit .condition and automatically reset to vnormal position in corresponding sequence, the lquicker acting one of said electroresponsive means being ineffective to open said contact means until operation of another of said electro-responsive means so that a rst cir cuit interrupting operation occurs only a predetermined time after the occurrence of said predetermined circuit condition, means for automatically reclosing said contact means in rei- Ispense to a circuitinterrupting operation thereof before said other electro-responsive means can reset, whereby if said predetermined circuit condition persists, the next succeeding opening of said rcontacts will rbc-effected by said quicker acte ing electro-responsive means.

5. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter, separable contacts for opening and closing the .circuit through said interrupter, means responsive to predetermined electrical conditions of the circuit for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation, said condition .responsive means including an element effective to cause an initial separation of said contacts a predetermined time after the occurrence of said conditions, and another element effective inthe event said conditions persist upon lautomatic reclosure of said contacts to rcause a second substantially instantaneous circuit interrupting operation.

6. In an automatic reclosing circuit interruptor. separable contacts for opening and closing the circuit through said interruptor, separate time delay means and instantaneous means each rhaving a normal position and being movable in response to predetermined electrical conditions of the circuit from normal position for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit only when both of said condition-responsive means have moved from their respective normal positions so that, said time delay means is eifece tive to cause initial separation of said contacts vupon the occurrence of said predetermined conditions, said time delay and instantaneous means automatically returning to their normal positions slowly and rapidly, respectively, and means for automatically reclosing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation in less time than is required for return of said time delay means, so that in the event said conditions persist upon reclosure of said contacts, said instantaneous means is effective to cause a second separation or" said contacts.

7. A closing repeater switch comprising a mech' anism movable through repeating cycles to open and close the switch during each cycle, means biasing the mechanism to cycle, a catch normally biased to prevent cycling, a solenoid responsive `to overload current adapted to withdraw the catch, a latch preventing development of cycling 4despite removal of said catch, and means responsive to overload current but having a time 'lag with respect to the solenoid for releasing said latch to effect cycling of the mechanism under its bias.

8. A reciosing repeater switch comprising a mechanism movable through repeating cycles to open and close the switch during each cycle, means biasing the mechanism to cycle, a catch normally biased to prevent cycling, asolenoid responsive to overload current adapted to withdraw the catch, a latch preventing development of ,cycling despite removal of said catchythermostatic means responsive to overload current but having a time lag with respect to the solenoid for releasing said latch, and time-delay means adapted automatically to couple with the cycling mechanism when the latter operates toward switch closing position.

9. A reclosing repeater switch comprising a mechanism movable through repeating cycles to open and close the switch during each cycle, means biasing the mechanism to cycle, catch means biased to prevent cycling, a solenoid 1re 'sponsive to overload adapted to withdraw.' the catch, a latch preventing development of cycling despite removal of said catch, means responsive to overload but having a time lag with respect to the solenoid for releasing said latch, time-delay means adapted automatically to couple with the cycling mechanism when the latter operates toward switch closing position, said time-delay means being biased toward an initial position and operating with time delay in returning to said initial position, the time-delay means having means whereby it may be coupled to and released from said cycling means at any of various positions of the time-delay means.

10. A reclosing repeater switch comprising a mechanism movable through repeating cycles to open and close the switch during each cycle, means biasing the mechanism to cycle, catch means biased to prevent cycling, a solenoid responsive to overload adapted to withdraw the catch to permit cycling, a latch preventing development of cycling despite removal of said catch, means responsive to overload but having a time lag with respect to the solenoid for releasing said latch, time-delay means adapted automatically to couple with the cycling mechanism when the latter operates toward switch closing position, said time-delay means being biased toward an initial position and operating with time delay in returning to said initial position, the time-delay means having means whereby it may be coupled to and released from said cycling means at any of various positions of the time-delay means until a final position is reached in which coupling is effected but uncoupling between the time-delay means and the cycling means cannot occur, whereby the switch is maintained open, and manual means for uncoupling the time-delay means and the cycling means for manual switch reclosure.

11. Electrical reclosing apparatus comprising circuit contacts, actuating means movable to open and close the contacts, a solenoid having a winding and an armature, and a thermostatic element electrically connected in series with said winding and with said contacts when the latter are closed, said thermostatic element being adapted to heat and move in response to overload current, means connected to the actuating means for driving the contacts open and shut, and separate mechanical control connections from the solenoid armature and the thermostatic element, respectively, to the driving means for cooperatively releasing it for motion, whereby the switch is opened and closed in response to overload current.

12. Electrical reclosing apparatus comprising circuit contacts, actuating means movable to open and close a circuit through the contacts, a solenoid and a thermostatic element in series with one another and said contacts when the latter are closed, said thermostatic element being adapted to heat and move in response to overload current, means connected to the actuating means for drivingthe contacts open and shut, and separate control connections from the solenoid and the thermostatic element, respectively, to the driving` means for releasing said driving means for motion in response to overload current.

13. Electrical reclosing apparatus comprising cir-cuit contacts, switch means movable to open and close a circuit through the contacts, a mechanism connected to the switch and adapted to operate through a cycle to open the switch and subsequently to close it, a first and a second operating release for the mechanism, electrical means Y operative instantaneously in response to overload current substantially regardless of the value of said overload current to energize the first release, and electrical means also responsive to overload current but having substantially inverse timecurrent characteristics for operating the second release.

14. Electrical reclosing apparatus comprising circuit contacts, a switch movable to open and close a circuit through the contacts, a mechanism connected to the switch and biased to operate through a cycle to open the switch and subsequently to close it, a first and a second control for the mechanism normally blocking its motion against its bias, solenoid means operative instantaneously in response to overload current substantially regardless of the value of said overload current to release the rst control, and thermostatic electrical means responsive to overload current with substantially inverse timecurrent characteristics for releasing the second control, whereby the mechanism may move to open and close the switch.

15. Electrical reclosing apparatus comprising circuit contacts, a switch movable to open and close a circuit through the contacts, a mechanism connected to the switch and biased to operate through a cycle to open the switch and subsequently to close it, a first and a second control for the mechanism normally blocking its motion against its bias, solenoid means operative instantaneously in response to overload current substantially regardless of the value of said overload current to release the rst control, thermostatic electrical means responsive to overload current with substantially inverse time-current characteristics for releasing the second control, whereby the mechanism may move to open and close the switch, and time-delay means connected with said mechanism to delay reclosing movement.

16. Electrical reclosing apparatus comprising circuit contacts, a switch movable to open and close a circuit through the contacts, a mechanism connected to the switch and biased to operate through a cycle to open the switch and subsev quently to close it, a first and a second control for the mechanism holding it against its bias, electrical means operative instantaneously in response to overload current substantially regardless of the value of said overload current to release the rst control, and electrical means having substantially inverse time-current characteristics for releasing the second control, said instantaneously operable means comprising a solenoid and said inverse time-current means comprising a composite metallic thermostat.

17. Electrical reclosing apparatus comprising circuit contacts, a switch movable to open and close a circuit through the contacts, a mechanism connected to the switch and biased to operate repeatedly through cycles of opening and closing the switch, a first control means and a second control means each adapted to block and release the mechanism for cycling movement, a solenoid responsive to overload current instantaneously to operate the rst control to release the mechanism and responsive to normal current to operate the rst control instantaneously to block cycling movement, and a thermostatic means responsive to overload current to operate the second control to release the mechanism for cycling and responsive to normal current to operate the second control to block the mechanism against cycling, said thermostatic means operating with inverse timecurrent characteristics.

18. Electrical reclosing apparatus comprising circuit contacts, a switch movable to open and close a circuit through the contacts, a mechanism connected to the switch and biased to operate repeatedly through cycles to open and close the switch, time-delay means delaying each reclosure but after a predetermined number of continuously successive cycles indenite'ly blocking reclosure, a iirst control means and a secondk control means each adapted to block and release the mechanism for cycling movement, a solenoid responsive to overload current instantaneously to operate the rst control to release the mechanism and responsive to normal current to operate the rst control instantaneously to block cycling movement, a thermostatic means responsive to overload current to heat to operate the second control to release the mechanism for cycling and responsive to normal current to operate the second control to block the mechanism against cycling, said thermosta'tic means operating with inverse time-current characteristics.

19. Electrical reclosing apparatus comprising circuit contacts, a switch movable to open and close a circuit through the contacts, a mechanism connected to the switch means and biased to operate repeatedly through cycleg opening and closing the switch, time-delay means delaying each reclosure but after a predetermined number of continuously successive cycles indefinitely blocking reclosure, manual means lor releasing' the blocking to effect reclosure, a first control means and a second control means each adapted to block and release the mechanism for cycling movement, a solenoid responsive to overload cur rent instantaneously to operate the first control to release the mechanism and responsive to normal current to operate the rst control instantaneously to block cycling movement, a thermostatic means responsive to overload current to heat to operate the second control to release the mechanism for cyclingl and responsive to normal current to operate the second control to block the mechanism against cycling, said thermostatic means operating with inverse time-current characteristics.

20. A switch recloser comprising switch opening and reclosing operating means, means biasing the switch operating means to pass through a cycle of operation to open and reclose the switch, catch means cooperating with the operating means and normally positioned to resist the bias, a solenoid responsive to overloads to withdraw said catch means to release the operating means for initial biased movement, a latch associated with the operating means adapted when closed to prevent development of said initial movement, and a thermostatic element adapted in response to heating caused by overloads to open said latch and permit complete cyclic movement of the switch through an open tol a reclosed condition.

21. A switch recloser comprising a switch opening and reclosing operating means, means biasing the operating means to pass through a cycle of operation to open and reclose the switch, catch means cooperating with the operating means and normally positioned to resist the bias, a solenoid in said circuit so as' to be responsive to overlcads to withdraw said catch means and release the operating means for initial biased movement, a latch associated with the operating means adapted when closed to prevent development of said initial movement, and a current-heated thermostatic element in series with said solenoid in said circuit so as to be heated by overloads therethrough to open said latch and permit come 18 plete cyclic movement of the switch through an open to a reclosed condition, said solenoid and thermostat being also connected in series with the switch.

2v2. A switch recloser comprising a switch opening and reclosing operating means, means biasing the operating 'means to pass through a cycle or! operation to open and reclose the switch, catch means cooperating with the operating means and normally positioned to resist the bias, a solenoid in series in the circuit served by the switch, the solenoid being adapted when sufficiently energized to withdraw said catch means to release the operating means for initial biased movement, a latch associated with the operating means adapted when closed to prevent development of saidA initial movement but at any time permitting the iinal closing movement, and a thermostatic element in series with said solenoid in said circuit and. adapted in response to heating caused by excess current therethrough to open the latch. and means for automatically returning said catch means toits normal position in response to a circuit opening operation to prevent a continued biased operation of the linkage provided said solenoid is not suiiiciently energized to withdraw said catch means.

23, A reclosing repeater switch comprising cycling means for successively opening and closing the switch, a solenoid in series with the switch, a thermostat responsive to heating caused by excessive current in series with said solenoid and switch, means responsive to energization of the solenoid by excess current adapted merely to initiate movement of the cycling means, and means responsive tov normal current and heating of the thermostat adapted to prevent further movement of the cycling means but in response to excess current and heating of the thermostat adapted to permit said movement through a switch opening and to a switch closing condition.

24. A reclosing repeater switch comprising cycling means for successively opening and closing the switch, a solenoid in series with the switch, a thermostat responsive to heating caused by ex- 5 cess current also in series with said solenoid and switch, means responsive to energization of the solenoid by excess current adapted merely to initiate movement of the cycling means, means responsive to normal current and heating of the thermostat adapted to prevent further movement of the cycling means but in response to excess current and heating of the thermostat adapted to permit said movement through a switch opening and to a switch closing condition, and means biasing the solenoid-operated means toward its ini-tial position to prevent actuation of the cycling means.

25; A reclosing repeater switch comprising cycling means for successively opening andclosing the switch, a solenoid in series with the switch, a thermostat responsive to heating caused by excess current in series with said solenoid and switch', means responsive to energization of the solenoid by excess current adapted merely to initiate movement of the cycling means, means responsive to normal current and heating of the thermostat adapted to prevent further movement of the cycling means but in response to excess current and heating of the thermostat adapted to permit said movement through a switch opening and to a switch closing condition, means biasing the solenoid-operated means toward its initialposition, and time-*delay means adapted 19 initially to delay reclosure operation and finally to prevent it altogether.

26. A reclosing repeater switch comprising cycling means for successively opening and closing the switch, a solenoid in series with the switch, a thermostat responsive to heating caused by excess current in series with said solenoid and switch, means responsive to energization of the solenoid by excess current adapted merely to initiate movement of the cycling means, means responsive to normal current and heating of the thermostat adapted to prevent further movement of the cycling means but in response to excess current and heating of the thermostat adapted to permit said movement through a switch opening and to a switch closing condition, means biasing the solenoid-operated means toward its initial position, time-delay means adapted initially to delay reclosure operation and finally to prevent it altogether, and manual means for releasing the connection between the switch operating means and said time-delay means.

27. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation, means automatically responsive to a sequence of a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations for preventing reclosure of said contacts, said condition-responsive means comprising a solenoid coil directly connected in series in the circuit so as to be rcsponsive to the aforesaid condition to cause opening of the contacts substantially instantaneously upon the occurrence of said condition, and time-delay means acting on a movable part which causes movement of said contacts during a circuit opening operation so as to be eiective to delay separation of said contacts in response to the occurrence of said condition at least for one predetermined operation in any such sequence of operations.

28. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, v

separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means `for automatically reclosing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation, means .ft-f

automatically responsive to a sequence of a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations for preventing reclosure of said contacts, said condition-responsive means comprising a solenoid coil directly connected in .fz

series to the circuit so as to be responsive to the aforesaid condition to cause opening of the contacts substantially instantaneously upon the occurrence of said condition for at least one predetermined operation in any such sequence of operations, and time-delay means acting on a movable part which causes movement of said contacts during a circuit opening operation so as to be effective to delay separation of said contacts in response to the occurrence of said condition at least for one other predetermined operation in any such sequence of operations.

29. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation, means automatically responsive to a sequence of a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations for preventing reclosure of said contacts, said condition-responsive means comprising a solenoid coil directly connected in series in the circuit so as to be responsive to the aforesaid condition to cause opening of the contacts substantially instantaneously upon the occurrence of said condition, time-delay means acting on a movable part which causes movement o1' said contacts during a, circuit opening operation so as to be eiective to delay separation of said contacts in response to the occurrence of said condition at least for one predetermined operation in any such sequence of operations, and means for rendering said time-delay means inoperative so as to permit a plurality of closely successive circuit interrupting operations to occur substantially instantaneously upon the occurrence of said condition.

30. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation, means automatically responsive to a sequence of a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations for preventing reclosure of said contacts, said condition-responsive means comprising a, solenoid coil directly connected in series in the circuit so as to be responsive to the aforesaid condition to cause opening of the contacts substantially instantaneously upon the occurrence of said condition, time-delay means for delaying separation of said contacts to delay a circuit opening operation a predetermined time after the occurrence of said predetermined circuit condition, and means associated with said breaker and time-delay means whereby said timedelay means is rendered ineffective on predetermined circuit opening operations in any such aforesaid sequence of operations.

3l. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation, means automatically responsive to a sequence of a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations for preventing reclosure of said contacts, manually operable means for causing reclosure of said contacts after operation of said reclosure-preventing means, said condition-responsive means comprising a solenoid coil directly connected in series in the circuit so as to be responsive to the aforesaid condition to cause opening of the contacts substantially instantaneously upon the occurrence of said condition, time-delay means acting on a movable part which causes movement of said contacts during a circuit opening operation so as to be effective to delay separation of said contacts in response to the occurrence of said condition at least for one predetermined operation in any such sequence of operations, and means whereby said condition-responsive means operates with a time delay at least on the first operation thereof closely following operation of said manually operable reclosing means to close the circuit after the contacts have been held open by said reclosure preventing means.

32. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker com4 prising, separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation, means automatically responsive to a sequence of a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations for preventing reclosure of said contacts, manually operable means for causing reclosure of said contacts after operation of said reclosure-preventing means, time-delay means for delaying separation of said contacts to delay a circuit opening operation a predetermined time after the occurrence of said predetermined circuit condition, means associated with said breaker and timedelay means whereby said time-delay means is rendered ineffective on predetermined circuit opening operations in any such aforesaid sequence of operations, and means whereby said condition-responsive means operates with a time delay at least on the iirst operation thereof closely following operation of said manually operable reclosing means to close the circuit after the contacts have been held open by said reclosure preventing means.

33. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation, means automatically responsive to a sequence of a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations for preventing reclosure of said contacts, said condition-responsive means comprising a solenoid coil directly connected in series in the circuit so as to be responsive to the aforesaid condition to cause opening of the contacts substantially instantaneously upon the occurrence of said condition, and timedelay means for releasing a latch acting on a movable part which causes movement of said contacts during a circuit opening operation so as to be effective to delay separation of said contacts in response to the occurrence of said condition at least for one predetermined operation in any such sequence of operations.

34. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, separable contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation, means automatically responsive to a sequence of a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations for preventing reclosure of said contacts, said condition-responsive means comprising a solenoid coil directly connected in series in the circuit so as to be responsive to the aforesaid condition to cause opening of the contacts substantially instantaneously upon the occurrence of said condition, a stop effective to block movement of a movable part which causes movemen; of said contacts during a circuit opening operation so as to be effective to prevent separation of said contacts in response to the occurrence of said condition at least for one predetermined operation in any such sequence of operations, and time-delay means for rendering said stop ineiective.

JAMES M. WALLACE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 508,652 Thomson Nov. 14, 1893 640,062 Winfield Dec. 26, 1899 1,402,310 Nicholson Jan. 3, 1922 1,957,734 Seese May 8, 1934 2,069,082 Walle Jan. 26, 1937 2,102,396 Walle Dec. 14, 1937 2,160,424 Taylor May 30, 1939 2,178,890 Gerard Nov. 7, 1939 2,449,867 Wallace Sept. 21, 1948

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