US2601482A - Circuit breaker-blow open, blow closed contacts - Google Patents

Circuit breaker-blow open, blow closed contacts Download PDF

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US2601482A
US2601482A US735907A US73590747A US2601482A US 2601482 A US2601482 A US 2601482A US 735907 A US735907 A US 735907A US 73590747 A US73590747 A US 73590747A US 2601482 A US2601482 A US 2601482A
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arm
contact
contacts
circuit
circuit breaker
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US735907A
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Joseph D Wood
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ITE Circuit Breaker Co
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ITE Circuit Breaker Co
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H77/00Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting
    • H01H77/02Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism
    • H01H77/10Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening
    • H01H77/101Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening with increasing of contact pressure by electrodynamic forces before opening

Definitions

  • circuit breakers have been designed so that a loop is 'form'edin' the circuit path through the breaker such that sh'ort'circuit current flowing sets up a 'magnet'ic'field which aids the opening spring in operating the movable arm to its trip position. This'is known as the blowopen erfect.
  • I provide on movable arm during closing and a different movable arm for opening, each of the movable arms being driven in" the same direction by the magnetic forces, one of them, however, effecting a closing operation and the other a tripping operation.
  • the closing'arm during closing is such that att-he instant the circuit contacts engage (but before closing movement is completed), the electromagnetic forces set up by the current in the circuit are such as to drive movable arm through'its'remaining small movement to effect complete closure or contact engagement.
  • the other movable arm is used so'that the magnetic field induced by thecui'rentaids in driving this movable arm to its open position.
  • the stationary parts must be made extremely strong and rigid. This can usually be done without too much diificulty.
  • the movable parts of the breaker give the most difiiculty.
  • Many contact arrangements have been devised to construct flexible contacts so that the electromagnetic forces increase contact pressure; as for instance shown in application Patent No. 2,514,839, issued July 11, 1950. 'These con structions are necessary so that the breaker may remain closed and so that the contact will open in the proper sequence during the opening stroke, even in the presence of high short circuit current.
  • the moving contact forms substantially the'bottom section of the U- shaped configuration of the circuit breaker and opens outwardly away from the two legs of the U- shape. In this arrangement, the effects of the electromagnetic forces "are to force the moving contact towards the open position.
  • the electrical operating mechanism is required to function properly over a specified range of control voltage.
  • a direct current closing mechanism is required to close the breaker from '90 volts to volts, at the closing mechanism. This represents awide range and is about as much as can be expected. Breakers that just close on the low voltage will slam closed on the high voltage with so much energy that there is danger of breaking parts even at no load and withoutconsideration of the forces imposed by short circuit current: "The solution to the problem does not liein making bigger and stronger closing me'c'zhanism" which will have power 'enough't'o forcethe breaker to the closed position in the'presence of a short circuit. Such a strong mechanism would surely damage the breakerwhe'n closing at no load over this wide range of control voltages.
  • my invention contemplates using the electromagnetic forces in such a way as to assist this opening operation and cause the breaker to open faster in direct proportion to the magnitude of the current in the system. It should also be noted that when closing against a short circuit, no electromagnetic blow-open force is imposed on the moving arm since no current is flowing until the contacts touch; the full electromagnetic blow-open force is then instantly present.
  • Another way to express the characteristics of my novel breaker is to say that the electromagnetic forces due to short circuit currents cause the breaker to blow-closed when closing, blowopen when opening; and the contacts of the circuit breaker to blow-closed if held in the closed position.
  • a further object of my invention is the provision of a blow-closed, blow-open circuit breaker so arranged that the resetting of the elements after the occurrence of a tripping operation will result sequentially and without further operations in the closing of the circuit breaker.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic side view of my novel circuit breaker contact arrangement showing the circuit breaker contacts closed.
  • Figure 2 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 1 showing the contacts tripped open, but before the latches are reset.
  • Figure 3 is a view corresponding to those of Figures 1 and 2, showing the circuit breaker fully open, with the latches reset and prepared to close.
  • the circuit breaker I is supported in any suitable manner on a panel H, carrying the additional supporting bracket l2, and front panel [3.
  • the back panel ll carries an upper back connection stud l5 and a lower back connection stud l8, mounted in any suitable insulator H5 and H8.
  • the upper back connection stud carries at the end thereof a stationary contact structure [1 comprising an arcing contact [8 and a main stationary contact I9.
  • the arcing and main contacts l8 and I9 are supported in any suitable manner in the contact structure I! and are biased toward current carrying relation with the movable contact elements by any suitable means such as compression springs or the like. They are so arranged in any of the well known methods so that the electromagnetic force due to high short circuit current will tend to force them into better contact engagement with the moving contact.
  • the insulated movable contact arm is of insulating material and is provided with an upper section 26 and a lower section 21 which are continuous with each other.
  • the lower end of the arm 25 is rotatably mounted on the pivot 30 connected to the extension 3
  • the lower back connection stud i5 also carries pivotally secured thereto at the pivot 32 the current carrying closing arm 33.
  • Insulated movable contact arm 25 includes a movable contact element 22 carried at the upper end of movable contact arm 25, which movable contact element carries the main movable contact 46 and the movable arcing contact 45.
  • the upper end of arm 33 is provided with a recess 34 having an opening 35 at the front and communicating with a hole 36 at the back in which is carried the plunger 31.
  • Compression spring 38 in the recess biases the plunger 31 to the right pushing the front end of plunger 31 against the pivoted contact link 39, the said pivoted contact link 33 bearing against the upper portion of arm 25 and actually being in engagement with the lower extension of the contact structure 22.
  • the spring 38 is sufliciently powerful to push the contact link 39 to the right, causing it to rotate clockwise about its pivot 40, and keep it in engagement with contact element 22 during the opening stroke of insulated movable contact arm 25.
  • the current path established when the contacts are closed is thus from the upper back connection stud 15 to the stationary contact structure H, including the arcing contact I8 and the main contact 13, then through the movable arcing contact and the movable main contact 46 to the movable contact carrying element 22, to the contact link 33, the pin 40, the arm 33, the pivot 32 and the lower stud IE.
  • contact arm 25 is biased in a clockwise direction toward opening position by the spring 48 acting on arm 25. This spring becomes effective when the latch which holds the contact arm 25 closed is removed.
  • Contact arm 25 is held in the closed position by the toggle 52 comprising links 53 and 54 and the knee pin 55.
  • Link 53 may be of insulating material and is connected by pin to the contact arm 25 and at its opposite end is connected to knee pin 55.
  • n 54 s connected at one end :to P1 15.5 and at its opposite endvispivotedpnthe pin r51 mounted between thesides of ,brackettll which in turn is supported onthe front panel 13.
  • Link 54 has an angular .extensionp62 so that members 54-62 form a bell zcrank lever revolvable around the pin 51.
  • the outer :or lower end of extension 82 carries -a latch ,roller 63 which is engaged by the latching notch Z64 of the pivoted latch member 85.
  • Latch :member 65 is in the vform of abell crank lever :rotatably mounted on the pin 66 carried betweenthesid'es of bracket 68.
  • the eceentricstop 98 cooperates'with the extension 62 of the link .54 in order to 1keep the latch roller 83 close to the latching ,notch 64 and prevent the linkage 52 .from .riding under center.
  • the upper arm 68 of the latch ,lever 85 is inthe path of movement ofthearmature 18 of trip coil 1
  • the armature 19 is driven to ,theleft to rotate the arm 68 and hence the latch member 565 in counterclockwise direction to release :the .latch notch 64 of the latch 65 from the latchroller 83 of the bell crank lever 54--62.
  • the closing arm 88 ' which may be of .insulating material is connected at one end .to the pin 28 on arm 33 and at the oppositeend to a pin 8
  • the armature 82 is normally biased toward the left by the compression springf85 which is seated at one end in the recess 88 of armature '82 and at the opposite end in the recess I81 of the housing 88 for'the coil 83.
  • Housing88' is supported from the front panel [3.
  • Latch roller issupported at the end of the bell crank latching lever 92, which latching lever is rotatably supportedon the pin 93 carried by an extension 94 of bracket 60.
  • the upper arm 95 of latching lever 92 is so arranged that during the opening movement of the circuit breaker, that is, when the circuit breaker movesfrom the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 2, the latch roller .63 at the end of arm 5482 will strike the upper end of .arm 95 of the latch lever 92, as seen in Figure 2,
  • of arm 88 moves opposite roller 98 and the spring 96 rotates thebell crank lever 92-95 clockwise to cause theroller 98 to enter the detent 9
  • blow-closed effect drives the moving contact closed to the final position and at the same time further compresses spring 38 back to the position of Figure l to reach the fully closed position of Figure 1.
  • roller 93 strikes the upper arm 95 of the latching lever 92, rotating the latching lever 92 counterclockwise and lifting the latch roller 99 out of the latching detent 9
  • the arm 83 is now free to move in response to the bias of the compression spring 85 and moves to the left carrying the pin 28 with it and rotating arm 33 carryin the spring 38 and link 39 counterclockwise. This removes arm 333, spring 38 and link 39 from a position where they would otherwise interfere with the closing movement of the circuit breaker.
  • the entire tripping operation takes place around the pin 33 when the toggle 52 breaks on energization of the trip magnet H.
  • the entire opening operation is thus a blow-open operation.
  • a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical circuit
  • said circuit breaker having a first pair of cooperable contacts, one of said contacts being movable into and out of contact engagement with the other of said contacts, a first pivoted arm for carrying said movable contact in a predetermined direction for effecting disengagement of said contacts, a latch connected to said first arm for holding said contacts in engagement, a trip mechanism constructed to be responsive to fault currents in the circuit to be protected by said circuit breaker for tripping said latch, biasing means for operating said arm to move said contacts to disengaged position in response to the tripping of said latch, a second pair of cooperable contacts, a second pivoted conducting arm carrying one of said second pairs of contacts for effecting engagement of said second pair of cooperable contacts, said second pair of cooperable contacts and said second arm with said first mentioned pair of cooperable contacts being connectible to said circuit to form a loop conducting circuit said second arm being movable within said loop, a contact closing mechanism connected to said second arm for operating said arm within said loop in the same direction as said predetermined direction
  • a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical circuit
  • said circuit breaker having a pair of cooperable contacts, one of said contacts being movable into and out of contact engagement with the other of said contacts, a contact carrying arm mechanism for carrying said movable contact in a predetermined direction for effecting disengagement of said contacts, a latch connected to said contact carrying arm mechanism for holding said contacts in engagement, a trip mechanism constructed to be responsive to fault currents in the circuit to be protected by said circuit breaker for tripping said latch, biasing means for operating said arm mechanism to move said contacts to disengaged position in response to the tripping of said latch, means including said contact carrying arm mechanism when said contacts are in latched engagement for applying the elec tro-magnetic forces due to a fault current in the circuit protected by said circuit breaker to said contact carrying arm mechanism for driving said contact carrying arm mechanism in a direction to effect disengagement of said contacts and an arm carrying a second movable contact into engagement with said first mentioned movable contact, a contact closing mechanism connected to said arm for operating said arm in the same
  • a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical circuit, said circuit breaker having a pair of cooperable contacts, one of said contacts being movable into and out of contact engagement with the other of said contacts, a contact carrying arm mechanism for carrying said movable contact in a predetermined direction for effecting disengagement of said contacts, a latch connected to said contact carrying arm mechanism for holding said contacts in engagement, a trip mechanism constructed to be responsive to fault currents in the circuit to be protected by said circuit breaker for tripping said latch, biasing means for operating said arm mechanism to move said contacts to disengaged position in response to the tripping of said latch, said contact carrying arm mechanism and said contacts forming when said contacts are in latched engagement, a loop circuit for applying the electro-magnetic forces, due to a fault current in the circuit protected by said circuit breaker to said contact carrying arm mechanism for driving said contact carrying arm mechanism in a direction to effect disengagement of said contacts and an arm mounted within said loop circuit and carrying a second movable contact into engagement with said first mentioned movable contact, a contact closing
  • a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical circuit
  • said circuit breaker having a pair of cooperable contacts, one of said contacts being movable into and out of contact engagement with the other of said contacts, a contact carrying arm mechanism for carrying said movable contact in a predetermined direction for effe ting disengagement of said contacts, a latch connected to said contact carrying arm mechanism for holding said contacts in engagement, a trip mechanism constructed to be responsive to fault currents in the circuit to be protected by said circuit breaker for tripping said latch, biasing means for operating said arm mechanism to move said contacts to disengaged position in response to the tripping of said latch, said contact carrying arm mechanism and said contacts forming when said contacts are in latched engagement, a loop circuit, for applying the electro-magnetic forces due to a fault current in the circuit protected by said circuit breaker, to said contact carrying arm mechanism for driving said contact carrying arm mechanism in a direction to effect disengagement of said contacts and an arm mounted within said loop circuit and carrying a second movable contact into engagement with said first mentioned movable contact,
  • a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical circuit
  • said circuit breaker having a first pair of cooperable contacts, one of said contacts being movable into and out of contact engagement with the other of said contacts, a contact carrying arm mechanism for carrying said movable contact in a predetermined direction for effecting disengagement of said contacts, a latch connected to said contact carrying arm mechanism for holding said contacts in engagement, a trip mechanism constructed to be responsive to fault currents in the circuit to be protected by said circuit breaker for tripping said latch, biasing means for operating said arm mechanism to move said contacts to disengaged position in response to the tripping of said latch, a second pair of cooperable contacts, one of said second pair of contacts being mounted on said contact carrying mechanism, an arm carrying the other of said second pair of contacts into contact engagement with its associated contact, a contact closing mechanism connected to said arm for operating said second pair of contacts into contact engagement, said first and second pair of contacts being arranged to form a loop circuit with the circuit to be protected for applying the electromagnetic forces, due to a fault current in the circuit protected by said circuit

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Description

J. nf wooo June 24, 1952 CIRCUIT BREAKER-BLOW OPEN, BLOW CLOSED CONTACTS 5 Sheets-Sheetl Filed March 20, 1947 J. D. WOOD June 24, 1952 CIRCUIT BREAKER-BLOW OPEN, BLOW CLOSED CONTACTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1947 IN V EN TOR.
w m m J. D. WOOD Julie 24 1952 CIRCUIT BREAKER-BLOW OPEN, BLOW CLOSED CONTACTS Filed March 20, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. fau oh J). Wood Patented June 24, 1952 CIRCUIT BREAKER-BLOW OPEN, CLOSED CONTACTS BLOW Joseph D. Wood, Upper Darby, Pa., assignor to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 20, 1947. Serial No. 735,907 Claims. (01. 200-106) My invention relates to circuit breakers, and more particularly to circuit breakers which utilize the electromagnetic action of current in the controlled circuit for closing'the breaker as well as foropening the breaker? Heretofore'; circuit breakers have been designed so that a loop is 'form'edin' the circuit path through the breaker such that sh'ort'circuit current flowing sets up a 'magnet'ic'field which aids the opening spring in operating the movable arm to its trip position. This'is known as the blowopen erfect.
In many instances it is also desirable during the closing operation of the circuit breaker to secure first the reverse effect, namely a blowclosed effect, i. e., to have the magnetic field induced by current in the controlled circuit drive the contacts closed; This'insures good contact closing in cases where the breaker may be closed against e'xcessive'current'or short circuit conditions, avoids chattering and freezing at the contacts due to poor contact engagement; and permits prompt tripping in response to short circuit conditions.
One method of accomplishing this result is disclosed in my co-pending applicationse'rial No. e725 filed January 28,1948.'
In accordance With'my present invention, I provide on movable arm during closing and a different movable arm for opening, each of the movable arms being driven in" the same direction by the magnetic forces, one of them, however, effecting a closing operation and the other a tripping operation. The closing'arm during closing is such that att-he instant the circuit contacts engage (but before closing movement is completed), the electromagnetic forces set up by the current in the circuit are such as to drive movable arm through'its'remaining small movement to effect complete closure or contact engagement.
Thereafter during tripping in response to abnormal current conditionsi'n the controlled circuit, the other movable arm is used so'that the magnetic field induced by thecui'rentaids in driving this movable arm to its open position.
Due to the approximately U-shapedconfiguration of the studs and contacts of most circuit breakers, high electromagnetic 'forc'es' are'impos'ed upon the breaker parts when fault currents of approximately 20,000 amperes or more flow through the circuit. These forces become extremely high when the current value reaches 100,600 amperes. Under such conditions, the forces may reach several thousand pounds;
To withstand these forces, the stationary parts must be made extremely strong and rigid. This can usually be done without too much diificulty. The movable parts of the breaker give the most difiiculty. Many contact arrangements have been devised to construct flexible contacts so that the electromagnetic forces increase contact pressure; as for instance shown in application Patent No. 2,514,839, issued July 11, 1950. 'These con structions are necessary so that the breaker may remain closed and so that the contact will open in the proper sequence during the opening stroke, even in the presence of high short circuit current.
In most circuit breakers the moving contact forms substantially the'bottom section of the U- shaped configuration of the circuit breaker and opens outwardly away from the two legs of the U- shape. In this arrangement, the effects of the electromagnetic forces "are to force the moving contact towards the open position.
This aids hi'gh'speed opening under fault conditions and aids circuit interruption, but it presents a real and diflicult problem when the breaker is required to be closed against a short circuit. In fact, many of the present commercial circuit breakers admittedly will not close against a short circuit'equ'al to'their interrupting capacity much less against a'current value equal to their'momentary rating or the asymmetrical inrush current that occurs 'in'the first half cycle on an alternating currentshort circuit.
In an electrically operated circuit breaker, the electrical operating mechanism is required to function properly over a specified range of control voltage. For instance, a direct current closing mechanism is required to close the breaker from '90 volts to volts, at the closing mechanism. This represents awide range and is about as much as can be expected. Breakers that just close on the low voltage will slam closed on the high voltage with so much energy that there is danger of breaking parts even at no load and withoutconsideration of the forces imposed by short circuit current: "The solution to the problem does not liein making bigger and stronger closing me'c'zhanism" which will have power 'enough't'o forcethe breaker to the closed position in the'presence of a short circuit. Such a strong mechanism would surely damage the breakerwhe'n closing at no load over this wide range of control voltages.
I have solved the problem by providin a novel circuit breaker in "which the "electromagnetic forces assist in closing the breaker and give faster and more positive closing in the presence of a high short circuit current.
The operation of my novel circuit breaker when closing, over the control voltage range, is practically the same whether it carries large or small amounts of current. That is to say, the breaker operates eiiectively for all values of current over the entire range up to its momentary rating, because my novel invention employs the natural electromagnetic forces to assist in the operation of closing.
However, when the breaker is opening, my invention contemplates using the electromagnetic forces in such a way as to assist this opening operation and cause the breaker to open faster in direct proportion to the magnitude of the current in the system. It should also be noted that when closing against a short circuit, no electromagnetic blow-open force is imposed on the moving arm since no current is flowing until the contacts touch; the full electromagnetic blow-open force is then instantly present.
Another way to express the characteristics of my novel breaker is to say that the electromagnetic forces due to short circuit currents cause the breaker to blow-closed when closing, blowopen when opening; and the contacts of the circuit breaker to blow-closed if held in the closed position.
It is thus an object of my invention to utilize the short circuit or fault current itself to aid in the closing of the contacts of the circuit breaker.
It is another object of my invention to so arrange the contacts of a. circuit breaker that the blow-closed effect of the electrical and magnetic forces around the contacts will be such as to drive the contacts together when the circuit breaker is closed.
It is another object of my invention to so arrange the contacts that even through a blowclosed efiect is achieved when the circuit breaker is closed, a blow-open effect is nevertheless achieved during the opening operation of the circuit breaker.
Specifically a further object of my invention is the provision of a blow-closed, blow-open circuit breaker so arranged that the resetting of the elements after the occurrence of a tripping operation will result sequentially and without further operations in the closing of the circuit breaker.
The foregoing and many other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following description and drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of my novel circuit breaker contact arrangement showing the circuit breaker contacts closed.
Figure 2 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 1 showing the contacts tripped open, but before the latches are reset.
Figure 3 is a view corresponding to those of Figures 1 and 2, showing the circuit breaker fully open, with the latches reset and prepared to close.
Referring now to the figures, I have here shown my novel circuit breaker 10 which is so arranged that during the closing movement and just as the contacts engage, but before they have fully engaged, the current loop through the elements provides a blow-closed effect. When the circuit breaker is tripped, the elements are so arranged that the current loop provides a blow-open effect and the contacts are of the blow-closed construction.
The circuit breaker I is supported in any suitable manner on a panel H, carrying the additional supporting bracket l2, and front panel [3.
The back panel ll carries an upper back connection stud l5 and a lower back connection stud l8, mounted in any suitable insulator H5 and H8. The upper back connection stud carries at the end thereof a stationary contact structure [1 comprising an arcing contact [8 and a main stationary contact I9. The arcing and main contacts l8 and I9 are supported in any suitable manner in the contact structure I! and are biased toward current carrying relation with the movable contact elements by any suitable means such as compression springs or the like. They are so arranged in any of the well known methods so that the electromagnetic force due to high short circuit current will tend to force them into better contact engagement with the moving contact.
The insulated movable contact arm is of insulating material and is provided with an upper section 26 and a lower section 21 which are continuous with each other. The lower end of the arm 25 is rotatably mounted on the pivot 30 connected to the extension 3| of the lower back connection stud l B. The lower back connection stud i5 also carries pivotally secured thereto at the pivot 32 the current carrying closing arm 33. Insulated movable contact arm 25 includes a movable contact element 22 carried at the upper end of movable contact arm 25, which movable contact element carries the main movable contact 46 and the movable arcing contact 45.
The upper end of arm 33 is provided with a recess 34 having an opening 35 at the front and communicating with a hole 36 at the back in which is carried the plunger 31. Compression spring 38 in the recess biases the plunger 31 to the right pushing the front end of plunger 31 against the pivoted contact link 39, the said pivoted contact link 33 bearing against the upper portion of arm 25 and actually being in engagement with the lower extension of the contact structure 22.
The spring 38 is sufliciently powerful to push the contact link 39 to the right, causing it to rotate clockwise about its pivot 40, and keep it in engagement with contact element 22 during the opening stroke of insulated movable contact arm 25.
The current path established when the contacts are closed is thus from the upper back connection stud 15 to the stationary contact structure H, including the arcing contact I8 and the main contact 13, then through the movable arcing contact and the movable main contact 46 to the movable contact carrying element 22, to the contact link 33, the pin 40, the arm 33, the pivot 32 and the lower stud IE.
It will thus be seen that when the contacts are closed, a U-shaped current loop is established with the contact elements Iii-45 and 19-46 at one of the bends or corners of the loop.
Accordingly, a force tending to blow open is set up on the contacts when the breaker is in the closed position.
As above pointed out, contact arm 25 is biased in a clockwise direction toward opening position by the spring 48 acting on arm 25. This spring becomes effective when the latch which holds the contact arm 25 closed is removed. Contact arm 25 is held in the closed position by the toggle 52 comprising links 53 and 54 and the knee pin 55. Link 53 may be of insulating material and is connected by pin to the contact arm 25 and at its opposite end is connected to knee pin 55.
n 54 s connected at one end :to P1 15.5 and at its opposite endvispivotedpnthe pin r51 mounted between thesides of ,brackettll which in turn is supported onthe front panel 13.
Link 54 has an angular .extensionp62 so that members 54-62 form a bell zcrank lever revolvable around the pin 51. The outer :or lower end of extension 82 carries -a latch ,roller 63 which is engaged by the latching notch Z64 of the pivoted latch member 85. Latch :member 65 is in the vform of abell crank lever :rotatably mounted on the pin 66 carried betweenthesid'es of bracket 68. I
The eceentricstop 98 cooperates'with the extension 62 of the link .54 in order to 1keep the latch roller 83 close to the latching ,notch 64 and prevent the linkage 52 .from .riding under center.
The upper arm 68 of the latch ,lever 85 is inthe path of movement ofthearmature 18 of trip coil 1|. When the tripcoil 1| isenergized in response to predetermined circuit conditions,
the armature 19 is driven to ,theleft to rotate the arm 68 and hence the latch member 565 in counterclockwise direction to release :the .latch notch 64 of the latch 65 from the latchroller 83 of the bell crank lever 54--62.
Since the toggle 53-55--54 is broken slightly upwardly in the closed position of the circuit breaker, the arm 25 may nowon release of the latch roller 63 rotate clockwise around the pin 38, breaking the toggle 52 up -to the position shown in Figure 2. This movement of the arm 25in a clockwise direction is in response to the force of the compression spring '38 .and tension spring 48 which, therefore, act as the opening springs of the circuit breaker. Compression spring 38 pushing on link 39 whichrotates on pivot 40 pushes the contact arm clockwise.
During this opening stroke of the breaker, it will be noted that the effectof the electromagnetic forces due to current flowing in the circuit, is to hasten the contact opening thus aiding high speed circuit .interruption. This I have called the blow-open effect.
When the breaker l8 opens, as shown inFigure 2, the pivoted contact link 39 and the current carrying contact closing arm 33=willfollow the insulated contact carrying arm 25 maintaining contact with the contact element 22 in order to insure that rupturing'takes placeat the contacts Ill-45, |9-46.
A portion of the link 54 strikes the buffer 15 carried by the bracket 68 and the upward breaking of the toggle'52 and hence the opening movement of contact arm 25 is thereby limited.
As the lever 62 is rocked counterclockwise about pin 51 it strikeslever 95 rocking this .lever counterclockwise about pin93 and removing pin 98 from slot 9| thus removing the [latch from the arm 88.
The closing arm 88 'which may be of .insulating material is connected at one end .to the pin 28 on arm 33 and at the oppositeend to a pin 8| on armature82 of the closing solenoid 83. "The armature 82 is normally biased toward the left by the compression springf85 which is seated at one end in the recess 88 of armature '82 and at the opposite end in the recess I81 of the housing 88 for'the coil 83. "Housing88'is supported from the front panel [3.
When the latch .isremoved from .arm 88 as described above, arm80 ismoved to the left under the action of spring "85 to operatelarm .33 counterclockwise about its .pivot L32 as .shown in 'Figure "3.
the left, thus moving the .closing arm 88, and
the pin 28 tothe left and rotating the closing arm 33 to the left.
With the circuit breaker =|8 in the position of Figure 3, it .is reset and in condition for closing which is accomplished by'energizing the closing-solenoid 8,3. This draws the closing arm 88 to the right and rotates-the currentcarrying closing arm 33 clockwise to bring the pivoted contact link 39 intoengagement with the movable contact element 22.
.In the fully closed position of the circuit breaker (Figure .1) the energization of the closing coil 83 has attracted the armature 82 to the right compressing the spring 85 and pulling the arm 80 and pin 28 to the right and rotating the lower arm 33 to the right around pin 32. When the closing movement is completed, the arm 80 is latched in closed position as shown in Figure .1 by the latchroller 98 in the latch detent 9| of the arm 88.
Latch roller issupported at the end of the bell crank latching lever 92, which latching lever is rotatably supportedon the pin 93 carried by an extension 94 of bracket 60. As describedthe upper arm 95 of latching lever 92 is so arranged that during the opening movement of the circuit breaker, that is, when the circuit breaker movesfrom the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 2, the latch roller .63 at the end of arm 5482 will strike the upper end of .arm 95 of the latch lever 92, as seen in Figure 2,
to rotate the latching lever 92 counterclockwise and to move the latch roller 98 out of the latching detent 9| of closing arm 80 so that the closing arm-88 may move to the left in response to the bias of compression spring 85.
Tension spring 96 connected between the arm 95 of the latching lever 92 and extension 91 of the latching lever 65 biases the latching lever 92 toward clockwise rotation and hence toward latching position with respect to arm 88, and
at the same time biases the latching lever 65 toward clockwise rotation and interengagement with the latch roller 83. The single spring 96 is thus used to reset both of the latching levers 65 and 92.
It will be seen that when the position of Figure 2is reached, the opening spring 48 has biased the contact arm 25 clockwise to its fullest extent. During the reset for the closin movement, the first operation as shown in Figure 3 is to move the arms 33 and2l fully to the left. Movement of arm 2'! not only re-closes contacts 45|8, 48-19, but also straightens toggle 52 until pin 83 is reengaged by its latch.
In preparation for the closing movement, detent 9| of arm 88 moves opposite roller 98 and the spring 96 rotates thebell crank lever 92-95 clockwise to cause theroller 98 to enter the detent 9| and hold the arm 80in extended position.
In reclosing, the magnet 83 is engaged operating its armature to the right againstthe action ofspring 86. Arm 33 ismoved to .the right until contact 39 engages contact 22 reclosing the circuit.
During the closingmovement, the blow-closed effect drives the moving contact closed to the final position and at the same time further compresses spring 38 back to the position of Figure l to reach the fully closed position of Figure 1.
Summarizing the above, on a tripping of the circuit breaker, the armature 10 rotates latch lever 65 counterclockwise to release the latch roller 53 and to permit the toggle 52 to break upwardly so that the arm may rotate clockwise toward opening position in response to the bias of spring 48. This is the initial step which occurs during tripping and is shown in Figure 2.
As the toggle 52 breaks upwardly, roller 93 strikes the upper arm 95 of the latching lever 92, rotating the latching lever 92 counterclockwise and lifting the latch roller 99 out of the latching detent 9|. The arm 83 is now free to move in response to the bias of the compression spring 85 and moves to the left carrying the pin 28 with it and rotating arm 33 carryin the spring 38 and link 39 counterclockwise. This removes arm 333, spring 38 and link 39 from a position where they would otherwise interfere with the closing movement of the circuit breaker.
The magnetic forces induced by the current loop during closing are such as to result in a blow-closed effect. This is so because effective pivoting of the arm 33 during the final closing operation is around the pin 32. Thus it will be seen that with the contact element 22 held rigidly in the closed position the movable current carrying closing arm 33 is free to be moved about its pivot 32 and be forced into strong contact engagement with the contact element 22.
Durin the tripping of the circuit breaker, the entire tripping operation takes place around the pin 33 when the toggle 52 breaks on energization of the trip magnet H. The entire opening operation is thus a blow-open operation.
In this way, therefore, the effective centers of rotation of the elements are shifted to produce a blow-closed effect during closing and a blowopen effect during opening.
Summarizing the above operations, it will now be clear that when the circuit breaker is closed, an electric circuit protected by the circuit breaker extends from the stud [5 through contact l9, contact 46 on the movable arm 26, through the conducting unit 22, through the contact 39, over arm to the stud i5. This forms a loop circuit and the magnetic forces set up are such as to tend to rotate the arm 33 about its pivot 32 in a clockwise direction. This in turn, of course, effects a corresponding tendency of rotation of arm 21 about its pivot 33. However, the circuit breaker is latched against such movement at this time.
If now in response to a fault current the tripping mechanism is open in the well known manner, the magnetic forces set up will effect rotation of the arms 33 and 2'! in a clockwise direction and the circuit breaker will open contacts l9 and 46.
I define this action as a blow open action.
When the circuit breaker is to be reclosed, the operations such as described in connection with Figure 3 occur; the arm 21 is moved counterclockwise about its pivot to effect re-engage ment of the contacts l3 and 46. At this time arm 33 is held in a position so that contact 39 is held out of engagement with the conducting member 22 as shown in Figure 3.
Upon complete engagement of contacts I 9 and 46, an operation of the operating coil 82 moves the arm 33 in a clockwise direction to move the contact member 39 into engagement with the conducting member 22. At the instant of engagement between the contact 39 and conducting 8 member 22, which completes the circuit of the main power line, the magnetic forces set up tend to rotate the member 33 in a clockwise direction as described above, therefore driving the contacts 39 into closer engagement with contact 22.
This latter action, namely the operation of driving the movable contact carrying arm 33 with its contact 39 into engagement with the conducting member 22 during the closing operation, I define as blow closed action.
Thus by my novel circuit breaker construction I have provided in the same circuit breaker a blow open and a blow closed action.
The various benefits and advantages and arrangement of the forces to produce both blow -closed and -open effect have already been described in my application Serial No. 4,725 referred to above. My present device provides a novel means for producing this effect.
In the foregoing I have described my invention in connection only with a specific illustrative embodiment thereof. Since many variations and modifications of my invention should now be obvious to those skilled in the art, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosures herein contained, but only by the appended claims.
I claim:
1. In a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical circuit, said circuit breaker having a first pair of cooperable contacts, one of said contacts being movable into and out of contact engagement with the other of said contacts, a first pivoted arm for carrying said movable contact in a predetermined direction for effecting disengagement of said contacts, a latch connected to said first arm for holding said contacts in engagement, a trip mechanism constructed to be responsive to fault currents in the circuit to be protected by said circuit breaker for tripping said latch, biasing means for operating said arm to move said contacts to disengaged position in response to the tripping of said latch, a second pair of cooperable contacts, a second pivoted conducting arm carrying one of said second pairs of contacts for effecting engagement of said second pair of cooperable contacts, said second pair of cooperable contacts and said second arm with said first mentioned pair of cooperable contacts being connectible to said circuit to form a loop conducting circuit said second arm being movable within said loop, a contact closing mechanism connected to said second arm for operating said arm within said loop in the same direction as said predetermined direction of movement of said first arm to effect contact engagement of said second pair of cooperable contacts, a latch for said contact closing mechanism and operable after engagement of said second pair of cooperable contacts for latching said contact closing mechanism in position, the electro-magnetic forces in said loop circuit in response to a fault current being in a direction to drive said first arm in said predetermined direction to effect disengagement of said first cooperable contacts and the electro-magnetic forces in said loop circuit due to fault current operating said second arm in said same predetermined direction for effecting tight contact engagement between said second pair of gooperable contacts during circuit closing opera- 2. In a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical circuit, said circuit breaker having a pair of cooperable contacts, one of said contacts being movable into and out of contact engagement with the other of said contacts, a contact carrying arm mechanism for carrying said movable contact in a predetermined direction for effecting disengagement of said contacts, a latch connected to said contact carrying arm mechanism for holding said contacts in engagement, a trip mechanism constructed to be responsive to fault currents in the circuit to be protected by said circuit breaker for tripping said latch, biasing means for operating said arm mechanism to move said contacts to disengaged position in response to the tripping of said latch, means including said contact carrying arm mechanism when said contacts are in latched engagement for applying the elec tro-magnetic forces due to a fault current in the circuit protected by said circuit breaker to said contact carrying arm mechanism for driving said contact carrying arm mechanism in a direction to effect disengagement of said contacts and an arm carrying a second movable contact into engagement with said first mentioned movable contact, a contact closing mechanism connected to said arm for operating said arm in the same direction as said predetermined direction of movement of said arm mechanism to effect contact engagement of the second movable contact on said arm with said first mentioned movable contact.
3. In a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical circuit, said circuit breaker having a pair of cooperable contacts, one of said contacts being movable into and out of contact engagement with the other of said contacts, a contact carrying arm mechanism for carrying said movable contact in a predetermined direction for effecting disengagement of said contacts, a latch connected to said contact carrying arm mechanism for holding said contacts in engagement, a trip mechanism constructed to be responsive to fault currents in the circuit to be protected by said circuit breaker for tripping said latch, biasing means for operating said arm mechanism to move said contacts to disengaged position in response to the tripping of said latch, said contact carrying arm mechanism and said contacts forming when said contacts are in latched engagement, a loop circuit for applying the electro-magnetic forces, due to a fault current in the circuit protected by said circuit breaker to said contact carrying arm mechanism for driving said contact carrying arm mechanism in a direction to effect disengagement of said contacts and an arm mounted within said loop circuit and carrying a second movable contact into engagement with said first mentioned movable contact, a contact closing mechanism connected to said arm for operating said arm to effect contact engagement of the second movable contact on said arm with said first mentioned movable contact.
4. In a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical circuit, said circuit breaker having a pair of cooperable contacts, one of said contacts being movable into and out of contact engagement with the other of said contacts, a contact carrying arm mechanism for carrying said movable contact in a predetermined direction for effe ting disengagement of said contacts, a latch connected to said contact carrying arm mechanism for holding said contacts in engagement, a trip mechanism constructed to be responsive to fault currents in the circuit to be protected by said circuit breaker for tripping said latch, biasing means for operating said arm mechanism to move said contacts to disengaged position in response to the tripping of said latch, said contact carrying arm mechanism and said contacts forming when said contacts are in latched engagement, a loop circuit, for applying the electro-magnetic forces due to a fault current in the circuit protected by said circuit breaker, to said contact carrying arm mechanism for driving said contact carrying arm mechanism in a direction to effect disengagement of said contacts and an arm mounted within said loop circuit and carrying a second movable contact into engagement with said first mentioned movable contact, a contact closing mechanism connected to said arm for operating said arm to effect contact engagement of the second movable contact on said arm with said first mentioned movable contact, said arm and second movable contact being in said loop circuit and being operated by the electro-magnetic forces due to a fault current in the circuit protected by said circuit breaker to drive said arm with said second movable contact into contact engagement with said first mentioned contact on said contact carrying arm mechanism.
5. In a circuit breaker for protecting an electrical circuit, said circuit breaker having a first pair of cooperable contacts, one of said contacts being movable into and out of contact engagement with the other of said contacts, a contact carrying arm mechanism for carrying said movable contact in a predetermined direction for effecting disengagement of said contacts, a latch connected to said contact carrying arm mechanism for holding said contacts in engagement, a trip mechanism constructed to be responsive to fault currents in the circuit to be protected by said circuit breaker for tripping said latch, biasing means for operating said arm mechanism to move said contacts to disengaged position in response to the tripping of said latch, a second pair of cooperable contacts, one of said second pair of contacts being mounted on said contact carrying mechanism, an arm carrying the other of said second pair of contacts into contact engagement with its associated contact, a contact closing mechanism connected to said arm for operating said second pair of contacts into contact engagement, said first and second pair of contacts being arranged to form a loop circuit with the circuit to be protected for applying the electromagnetic forces, due to a fault current in the circuit protected by said circuit, to said contact carrying arm mechanism for driving said contact carrying arm mechanism in a direction to effect disengagement of said first cooperable contacts and for applying the said electro-magnetic forces to said arm in a direction to effect engagement of said second pair of cooperable contacts.
JOSEPH D. WOOD.
REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,115,448 Loguin Oct. 27, 1914 1,248,273 Crane Nov. 27, 1917 1,395,348 MacNeill NOV. 1, 1921 1,728,020 Traver Sept. 10, 1929 1,958,159 Bresson May 8, 1934 2,275,891 Cox et a1 Mar. 10, 1942 2,281,752 Cumming May 5, 1942 2,328,318 Wood Aug. 31, 1943 2,329,003 Seaman Sept. 7, 1943
US735907A 1947-03-20 1947-03-20 Circuit breaker-blow open, blow closed contacts Expired - Lifetime US2601482A (en)

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2943168A (en) * 1957-09-16 1960-06-28 Fed Pacific Electric Co Circuit breakers
US2986618A (en) * 1959-04-07 1961-05-30 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Time delay tripping feature for high speed breakers
US3223799A (en) * 1960-12-29 1965-12-14 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Stationary contact structure having blow-open, blow-closed, loop current paths

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1115448A (en) * 1910-12-12 1914-10-27 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Circuit-breaker.
US1248273A (en) * 1915-03-04 1917-11-27 Toledo Scale Co Electric automatic scale.
US1395348A (en) * 1921-11-01 Circuit-breaker
US1728020A (en) * 1924-01-16 1929-09-10 Gen Electric Electric switch
US1958159A (en) * 1930-03-28 1934-05-08 Atcliers De Const Electr De De Disconnecting switch with compensated electrodynamic forces
US2275891A (en) * 1938-12-07 1942-03-10 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker
US2281752A (en) * 1939-07-27 1942-05-05 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit breaker
US2328318A (en) * 1942-04-03 1943-08-31 Roller Smith Company Circuit breaker contact
US2329003A (en) * 1942-05-21 1943-09-07 Gen Electric Electric switch

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1395348A (en) * 1921-11-01 Circuit-breaker
US1115448A (en) * 1910-12-12 1914-10-27 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Circuit-breaker.
US1248273A (en) * 1915-03-04 1917-11-27 Toledo Scale Co Electric automatic scale.
US1728020A (en) * 1924-01-16 1929-09-10 Gen Electric Electric switch
US1958159A (en) * 1930-03-28 1934-05-08 Atcliers De Const Electr De De Disconnecting switch with compensated electrodynamic forces
US2275891A (en) * 1938-12-07 1942-03-10 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker
US2281752A (en) * 1939-07-27 1942-05-05 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit breaker
US2328318A (en) * 1942-04-03 1943-08-31 Roller Smith Company Circuit breaker contact
US2329003A (en) * 1942-05-21 1943-09-07 Gen Electric Electric switch

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2943168A (en) * 1957-09-16 1960-06-28 Fed Pacific Electric Co Circuit breakers
US2986618A (en) * 1959-04-07 1961-05-30 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Time delay tripping feature for high speed breakers
US3223799A (en) * 1960-12-29 1965-12-14 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Stationary contact structure having blow-open, blow-closed, loop current paths

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