US2662949A - Multipole circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

DeC- 15, 1953 P. M. cHRlsrENsEN ETAL 2,662,949

MULTIPOLE CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Aug. 24, 195o s sheets-sheet 1 SZ 94 l e2 i az\ IL /5 220 2M; E22 BYWM 50 6*? G E 20G m DCC 15, 1953 P. M. cHRlsTENsl-:N ETAL 2,662,949

MULTIPOLE CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Aug. 24, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 HTTOR/VEYS Dec. 15, 1953 P. M. cHRlsTENsEN ErAL 2,662,949

MULTIPOLE CIRCUIT BREAKER 5 Sheets-Shea? 5 Filed Aug. 24, 1950 'lll/[IIIA ATTOHA/E YS Dec- 15, 1953 P. M. cHRlsTr-:NSEN ET AL 2,652,949

MULTIPOLE CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Aug. 24, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 15, 1953 P. M. cHRlsTENsl-:N ET AL 2,662,949

MULTIPOLE CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Aug. 24, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www h UWM Patented Dec. l5, 1953 MULTIPOLE CIRCUIT BREAKER Paul M. Christensen,

Alexander R. Norden ors to Federal Electric Products West Orange, N. J., and New York, N. Y., assign- Company,

Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application August 24, 1950, Serial N o. 181,224 25 Claims. (Cl. 20o-116) This invention relates to multi-pole circuit breakers and to tripping and actuating devices therefor. 'More particularly, but without restriction, the invention is related to multi-pole circuit breakers of the general type disclosed in the copending application of Paul M. Christensen, Ser. No. 181,223 led August 24, 1950, assigned to the assignee hereof, and is concerned with a multi-pole circuit breaker which can be manually opened and closed and which is also opened automatically at all of the poles upon the occurrence of an overload in the circuit at any one of the poles.

In general, the individual circuit breaker mechanisms are of the type disclosed in U. S. Patents Nos. 2,174,669, 2,209,319, 2,209,352, 2,209,353, Re. No. 23,188 and the cop-ending applications of Thomas M. Cole, Ser. No. 127,433, filed November 15, 1949, now Patent No. 2,647,186, and Ser. No. 184,749, filed September 141, 1350, both assigned to the assignee hereof.

The primary object ci the present invention is the provision of a multi-pole circuit breaker of the above mentioned type, which is of generally improved operation and construction.

Another object is the provision of a multi-pole circuit breaker which is opened automatically at all of the poles thereof upon the occurrence of an overload in the circuit at any one pole and which is automatically reset, upon the tripping thereof,

for manual movement to the closed `condition thereof, without the necessity of a separate resetting operation.

The present invention will be fully understood from the following descri tion considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side View of a circuit breaker embodythe present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are end views as seen from the lines i-Z and 3.-3, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the circuit breaker;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, one part of 'the housing being removed, the circuit breaker mechanism being closed or in circuit making condition;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line E-B of Fig. 5

Fig. 'i' is a sectional View taken on the line 5-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. S is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6,'

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken i-I ofFig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a sectional li-l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 12 is a sectional l2-I2 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 13 is a sectional zS-I3 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 14 is a sectional llS-I of Fig. 6;

Fig. 15 is a sectional z-i ofFig. 5;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line i--IG of Fig. 5;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line I'i-l 1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 18 is a partial View similar to Fig. 5 showing the circuit breaker mechanism L1 the open condition thereof Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line IS-l E3 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a View similar to Fig. 18 showing another position of the circuit breaker mechanism in the open condition thereof;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 2 l-2l of Fig. 20; and

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the circuit breaker of the present invention comprises a housing formed by the casings 32 and 34, each of which houses a separate circuit breaker mechanism. Casing 32 comprises the body part 36 provided with the cover and casing S4 coinprises the body part Iii! and the cover part t2, all of said parts being preferably molded from any suitable plastic, for example, Bakelite The casings 32 and 34 are secured together in laterally disposed relation in any suitable manner, as by the bolts Liri which extend through both casings, as illustrated in Figs. l, 3 and i6, the surface of cover part i2 facing outwardly of casing Si, being provided with the raised portions G6 which are received in complementary surface recesses t8 defined in body part 36 of casing as illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, l0, 19 and 2l.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the circuit breaker is of the plug-in type for use with a terminal plate assembly such as that described in application Ser. No. 127,432 led November 15, 1949, by Thomas M. Cole and 'Paul M. Christensen, as joint inventors and assigned to the assignee hereof. It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to plug-in circuit breakers but is applicable as well to circuit breakers which are not provided on the line view taken on line View taken on t line View taken on the line View taken on the line View taken on the line with plug-in terminals. The casings 32 and 34 are provided, at one end thereof, with an open recess l! formed in the respective body parts, and adapted to engage a hooked element of the terminal plate assembly. At its other end, each of said casings is provided with a re-entrant lower portion 52 formed in both the body parts and the cover parts thereof, and adapted to encompass the side and a portion of the top surface of a contact block unit of said terminal plate assembly when mounted thereon. Each casingV is provided, above the re-entrant portion 5.2 there,- of, with a chamber 5.', in which there is vertically mounted a plug-in terminal prong or stab. contact` 5B for making contact with said terminal block unit. Said contact Sli is provided with the laterally extending portions or arms 5l which are removably positioned in cooperating recesses 59 formed in the walls of said chamber. It will be understood that the described mounting means and the stab contact, per se, do not form part of the invention to which this application is directed and that the housing 3c may be otherwise mounted in any suitable manner.

Each casing is provided, above the open recess d Ell therein, with an arcing chamber 58 in which the stationary contact E@ and movable contact 62 are disposed for relative movement. t will be noted that said arcing chambers are each bounded by the similarly thickened portions 6i, 63 and ad of the body parts 36- and d, respectively, and by the portions @t of said body parts which are of reduced thickness and which extend between the portions 63 and 6d thereof. It will be noted that portion tid is provided with a shoulder et where it extends above portion te and that portion 63 is provided with an angular step 16 where it extends above said portion e6. The cover parts 38 and yd2 are each provided on its surface, which faces its companion body part, with a thickened portion 12 (Figs. 9, 12 and 16) which is complementary in form to the portion 66. When the cover and body parts of casings 32 and Sli are in housing-defining relation, the ends la and it of said portion i2 abut the step 'm and the shoulder 58, respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 16, and said portion together with portion 56, the confronting surfaces of which are spaced as at i8, form a bounding wall for the arcing chamber in opposition to the wall thereof formed by the thickened portion 6l. Therefore, it will be noted that each casing is provided with an arcing chamber which is closed on all sides thereof except at its opening 80 externally of the casing whereby arcs which may be formed upon the disengagement of contacts te and 62 are to a very considerable extent prevented from entering that portion of the casing in which the circuit breaker mechanism is contained. A chamber 32 is provided in casing 32 for containing the circuit breaker mechanism S4 thereof and a similar chamber 86 is formed in casing 315 for containing the circuit breaker mechanism 36 thereof. Each of said chambers is provided with an opening et which extends throughA the body part in which said chamber is defined, a handle 92; projecting, from casing 32 and a similar handle ali projecting from casing 34. Said handles are each formed of insulation material, one of said handles, here shown as ed, being provided with a laterally extending pin 96 (Fig. '7) which is received in a companion recess s3 formed in handle 92 to provide for the conjoint operation of said handles. Handle S2 is provided with a circular pivot portion le@ which is positioned in the bearing recess 102 formed in cover part 38, and handle S4 is provided with a similar pivot portion IM which is positioned in the bearing recess IDE formed in the body part 4B. Handle 92 is also provided with the laterally extending circular pivot portion m3, positioned in the bearing recess il@ (Figs. 1 and l0) formed in body part 3B, and handle gli is provided with a similar pivot portion H2 positioned in the bearing recess H4 formed in the cover part d2.

The circuit breaker mechanisms 313 and 83 are the same and, therefore, a detailed description of one of said mechanisms will be suiiicient to describe both of said mechanisms. rThe circuit breaker mechanism includes a manual operable member, here shown as the above mentioned pivoted handle 92 or 913. A uniplanar movable contact member H6 is mounted in the chambers B2 and B, respectively, for pivotal movement by pivot pin HB, the opposite ends of which are received in the aligned bearing projections Idil on the opposing surfaces of each of the casing parts of casings 32 and 34. At one end thereof the movable contact member is provided with the previously mentioned contact S2 which is engageable With and disengageable from the companion contact E@ carried by the terminal member 22 which is mounted in an open recessed portion i251 formed in each of the casings above the arcing chambers 58 thereof. As here shown, the terminal member A22 is provided with a terminal screw |26 and an extending portion 128 which extends into the chamber 58v and which carries the aforementioned contact tt. The aforementioned complementary casing portions 55 and i2 form a guideway for the movable contact member, the space 'i8 between the confronting surfaces thereof dening a guide slot through which an end portion |33 of the movable contact member projects with slight clearance, as illustrated in Fig. 16. It will be noted from Figs. 18 and 21 that said end portion 13% abuts the step le in the disengaged condition of the companion contact, said step serving to limit the movement of the movable contact member in its circuit open position.

At its end portion 39, the movable contact member is provided with an integral depending portion |32 (Fig. 16) which extends through a slot i3d at one end of a thermal-current responsive member |36 which, as here shown, consists of a thermal bi-metallic strip which is welded or otherwise secured on one end of a side edge of said movable contact member H6. The free end of bi-metallic strip 135 is arranged to releasably engage a latch element |38 at one end of an actuating member or lever |40 pivotally mounted on the end of said movable contact member Il@ opposite the end thereof which carries the contact 62.

As here shown, the lever IM is formed in one piece of sheet metal and comprises laterally spaced opposing walls M2, H12 open between the marginal edges Utd, ldd thereof, and partially closed between the opposite marginal edges Idt, E46 thereof,y by the integral wall Hi8 (Fig. 6) provided With the opening 15E) defined therein. The aforementioned latch 38 is provided on said wall Hi8 and depends below the opposing walls m2, M2 of said lever. Said walls are provided with the confronting punched-in cylindrical projections 152 (Fig. 15) which are mounted for pivotal movement in an insulated bushing 15d mounted in an aperture 1.56 provided in the movable contact member H6 at the aforementioned opposite end thereof. It will be noted that said bushing is provided with portions which overlie side surface portions of the movable contact member and that one of said bushing portions is provided with a part |58 (Fig. 8) which overlies and is secured to a side edge portion of the contact member above the aperture |55 therein. It will be noted that when the lever N2 is mounted on the movable Contact member liti, the Walls M2 thereof straddle said movable member and the end portion |593 of said movable member projects through the opening |50 in wall Hi8. Each of said side Walls is also provided, at the end thereof remote from the latching element 38, with a slotted portion |62 which extends transversely of said Walls and which is provided at the end thereof remote from wall |43 with a constricted portion it# which extends upwardly of the remaining portion of said slot to form a depending shoulder lit adjacent said constricted portion. wall is also provided with a depending hooked element |68. Said hooked elements are provided with inturned portions llii (Figs. i0, l5 and 21) which function as hereinaiter described.

Each handle is provided with an integral portien il which extends below the pivot portions thereof. Said portions |72 are each provided with a g aperture I'Id (Fig. 21). A resili- J link, here shown as a spiral spring member provided at one end thereof with the latextending pivot portions |73 which are ved in the aforementioned apertures EN. Mounted within the member |75 is a floating ball or universal link lie formed of insulated material and provided with the laterally extending portions it in each of which there is mounted a pin iii?. To accommodate ball |75, the interlocked, abutting casing portions and E are each apertured as at |812 and |86, respectively. It will be noted from Figs. 6, 10, 19 and 2l, that the spring link lle is disposed in said apertures, which are in registry, with the portions E80 of ball link |273 and the pins |82 carried thereby, extending outwardly of said apertures and into the casing chambers 82 and 5d, respectively, for engagement With the levers lfiii in said chambers, respectiveiy. More specically, the pin members m2 are engaged in the adjacent slots it?, and in the closed or circuit-making condition of the circuit breaker mechanism, the pin member Go2 is positioned in the restricted portion |65 of the slot, the pin member being wedged between the portion its of bushing |54 and the shoulder it being noted from Fig. 5 that the opening between the shoulder |56 and said portion |5S is narrower than the diameter1 of the pin H32. It will be apparent that the ball VSS and the link i 'it constitute a universal joint between the handles i2 and the actuators Mii.

A coil compression spring |88 is operatively interposed between the movable Contact member l it and each of the handles for biasing the movable contact member to its open position. One end of said spring engages a lug Hit carried by the handle and the other end of said spring engages a lug it? integral with the movable contact member ile. A detent member ist extends outwardly from the bearing projections |229 of casing parts te and al), respectively, :for limiting the movement of the spring |88 in the direction of the stab contact 55 when the handles are moved in the direction to close the circuit breaker mechanism.

lt will be understood that thermostat member |36 operates to latch the companion manually operable actuating mechanism lin to the movable contact member H6 and to unlatch the actuating mechanism from the movable contact member, unlatching taking place upon denection of member 35 causing the disengagement of end |96 thereof from the latch element |38 upon the occurrence of an overload or under other abnormal current conditions in a circuit controlled by the circuit breaker. In the closed condition of the circuit breaker, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the bias exerted by the compressed spring |88 to move the movable contact member l it to the open position thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 18, is opposed by the tension exerted by the compressed spiral linl; member Vie whereby to maintain the movable Contact mcmi er in the closed position thereof. More specicaliy, when the circuit breaker mechanism is in the open condition thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 13, the spring ilo is in the relaxed condition thereof, it being noted that the spring portions |78, which are mounted in the movable handies, are spaced from the remaining spiral portion 93. It will be noted that the pin members |32 are wedged between bushing portion |58 and shoulder as previously described. When the handle is moved from the oi position illustrate!s in Fig. 18 to the on position illustrated in Fig. in addition to compressing spring ls, due to the movement of lug IEB oi the handle toward portion M2 of contact member Iii, the handle portion '32, in which the spring portion iig is mounted, is moved counterclockwise from the approximately vertical disposition thereof, as in Fig. 18, toward the inclined position thereof as in 5. During said movement, since the pin members it?? are prevented from moving into slots by the shoulders 55, the levers |69 are carried forwardly and downwardly whereby to latch end it@ of member |35 and the latch element At the end of said movement the portion V38 oi the spira.. link member is positioned close to the portion thereof, as illustrated in 13, to compress said spiral spring for providing a contact pressure, the tension of which spring is greater than the bias of the compressed spring tijd.

It Will be understood that pivot portion iid of s constitute the centers breaker mechanism. 2.-. the circuit breakers 5,7 posed to the right of the n pivot and pin in the open condition (Fig. 18), portion to f seid cent rline. In said closed condition, t bias exerte.` through the toggle is eieotive to in ntain both mechanisms in closed condition, the link interengaging said mech ms being releasably retained movement relative thereto and disposed as G.

Upon the occurrence of an overload, or other abnormal condition, in ser circuit, the end |555 of the flexible member i' in the overloaded vment with the latch circuit, noxes out of i3d whereupon lever if?" a direction and horns there@ gage the movable contact |23 ing down the speed of motion of the lever reietive to the contact member. Said `otation moves shoulder ist out of the path oi in |82 in said circuit breaker mechanism and the pin is freed for movement into slot 52. Said movement oi the pin causes the collapse of the toggle of said si. mechanism, the elbow lli thereofbeing carried downwardly beyond the center-line to the position of Figi. i8'. As a result of the collapse ofv the toggle and due to the expansion of: spring i353. the latter rotating the movable contact member out of engagement with the stationary contact, the handle is rotated in a clockwise direction causing pin ft2 to be carried back towardthe constricted slot portion, ti e lever thereupon being rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the horns |68 being disengaged from the movable contact member, and the lever assuming thepo sition illustrated in Fig. 1S. As a result of the foregoing movement of pin 82. in the tripped circuit breaker, the ball link il'f is tree to pivot as in Fig. 21. Said pivotal movement ofthe ball link relieves the tension of the toggle applied therethrough to the untripped circuit breaker and the spring its in the untripped side rotates the movable Contact member and' lever thereof, as a unit, for disengaging the contacts in the untripped circuit breaker. It will beA noted that the lever in the overloaded circuit breaker, due to the. momentary engagement of the horns It?, thereof with the movable contact member, is prevented from possible reengagement with the flexible strip thereof. in this connection, it will be understood that said releasable engagement of the horns. on the movable. contact member serves to prevent free and uncontrolledvr movement of thel lever upon release thereof by the flexible strip. It will also be noted that due to the presence of the slots EEZ, the pins ft2 of the ball link are free to move thereby permitting the ball link to pivot in member il@ as a universal joint between the handles and the actuators whereupon said. link may adjust itself, as required, to eifect the described; opening of the mechanism in the circuit which was not overloaded. ln addition, it will be noted that in the on position, both mechanisms are automatically positioned. for manual resetting to the on position, and do not reduire any additional re setting operation before movement to said on position.

The circuit breaker of the present invention is of the trip-free type will trip even if the handle is retained in the on position. With the handle so retained, the strip E35 flexes upon occurrence oi an overload in one of the circuits i..

and upon disengagement thereof withl the lever Hill, spring iet pivots the movable contact meinber lit in a counter-clockwise direction tov disengage contacts @il and 5.2. Upon said ilexing, lever iii@ is freed for clockwise rotation, pin i532? moving into slot 35, and horns if@ engaging the movable contact member, as previously described. Due to said movement of the pin in the tripped circuit breaker, the ball link llt is free to pivot, as in Fig. 21, and the tension, of the toggle applied therethrough to the untripped circuit breaker is relieved, whereupon the spring ISB in the untripped side is efective to rotate the movable Contact member thereof for disen-` gaging the contacts in the untrippedl circuit breaker. Under normal conditions, upon release of the handle, the circuit breaker will assume the on position illustrated in 18. However, if the handle is retained in the on position long enough to permit strip i3@ in the overloaded crcuit breaker, tc cool, the tension of spring it may be insufficient to carry the handle to the full off position, said strip preventing the full re turn ofthe companion lever l4. In the latter case, uponY release of the handle, the circuit or' or.)

e breaker will assume the positions illustrated in Figs. 20 to 22. It will be noted that in said positions, the handle is short of the full oil position thereof and the horns 68 of the lever in the overloaded circuit are in frictional engagement with the movable contact member thereof, the lever it@ in the other circuit breaker being in proper position as in Fig. 22. To reset the mechanism, prior to. manual movement thereof to the on position, the handle is moved to the full olf position, as in Fig. 1S, to disengage the horns of the engaged lever, whereupon the circuit breaker components are all in correct position for movement or the handles to the on" position.

The movable contact members are also provided with a general circular peripherally interrupted aperture Zai and a tapered pin 2te for calibrating the circuit breaker mechanism, it being understood that said calibrating means is effective to vary the amount of overlap of the latch element itil at the end 193 ofv theA flexible member 53e.

The thermal member l is connected in series with the movable contact member lit and the circuit which is to be controlled by the circuit breaker. For this purpose a flexible metallic conductor or connector 2% is connected to said thermal element and extends through an opening let in the wail portion 2l@ which separates the chamber containing the circuit breaker mechanism from the chamber in which the stab contact ce is mounted, for connection to said stab Contact which makes contact with the power line in the terminal panel assembly of the copending application described above.

As illustrated, the thermal current responsive member it is preferably operable, not only in response to the heating eect of the current passing therethrough but is also operable under the control of electromagnetic means for effecting disengagement of the companion relatively movable contacts til and t2, and the arrangement is preferably such that, as here shown, the electromagnetic means is energized by the current which passes through the said thermal responsive member. For this purpose an electromagn netic member Zit is nxedly secured, preferably by welding, or in other suitable manner, on member 13B near the free end thereof and a companion rigid armature 2id is disposed in spaced confronting relation to electromagnetic member 2l2. As shown in Fig. 7., magnetic member Zl straddles member 23S by which it is carried. Said member 2i2 is formed in one piece of soft sheet steel or other suitable sheet materialand is provided with the depending portions 2 it which are arranged in surface confronting relation to the adjacent surface of armature 2 iii. As shown in Fig. 16, armature 2 ill is provided with a slotted portion 2 i8, opposite the free end thereof, which is aligned with slot ite in mem er 36. The armature is secured to the fined end of member i3d, preferably by welding, and side portions 22e thereof are bent upwardly and abut the marginal side edges of` member itt, the depending portion 132 of member i i6 extending through said aligned slots and being riveted to the outer surface of the armature. The electromagnetic member 212 and the armature 2li operate substantially in the same way as corresponding mechanism in U. S. Patent Re. 23,188.

While we have shown and described the pren ferred embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that various changes may bemade in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a multi-pole circuit breaker having a circuit breaker mechanism for each circuit, each mechanism being biased for movement from the circuit-closed condition to the circuit-open condition thereof, means inter-engaging said mechanisms and releasably retained from movement relative thereto in the circuit-closed condition thereof, said interengaging means including means operative thereupon for biasing said mechanisms in said circuit-closed condition in opposition to the first mentioned bias thereon, and means for eiecting relative movement between said inter-engaging means and said mechanisms upon the occurrence of a predetermined current in one of said circuits whereby to relieve said opposing bias sufficiently for said circuit breakers to be moved to the circuit-open condition thereof,

2. in a multi-pole circuit breaker having a circuit breaker mechanism for each circuit, each mechanism being biased for movement from the circuit-closed condition to the circuit-open condition thereof, universal joint means interconnected said mechanisms and releasably retained from movement relative thereto in the circuitclosed condition thereof, toggle means operative upon said joint means for biasing said mechanisms in said circuit-closed condition in opposition to the first mentioned bias thereon, and means included in the interconnection of said universal joint and said mechanisms for eecting movement of said joint relative to said mechanisms upon the occurrence of a predetermined current in one of said circuits for operating said toggle means whereby to move said circuit breakers to the circuit--open condition thereof.

3. In a multi-pole circuit breaker having a circuit breaker mechanism for each circuit, each mechanism being biased for movement from the circuit-closed condition to the circuit-open condition thereof, resilient means, link means universally mounted in said resilient means and interconecting said mechanisms, said resilient means and said linking means constituting a toggle, said linking means being releasabiy retained in predetermined disposition in the circuit-closed condition of said mechanism whereby said toggle biases said mechanism in opposition to bias thereon, and means freeing said linking means to move from said disposition thereof relatively to at least one of said mechanisms upon the occurrence of a predetermined current in the circuit of said one mechanism for operating said toggle whereby to move said circuit breakers to the circuit-open condition thereof.

fi. in a multi-pole circuit breaker having a plurality of circuit breaker mechanisms each biased ior movement from the circuit-closed condition to the circuit-open condition thereof and each provided with a pivotally mounted operating meriber, said members being joined for conjoint operation; a resilient member connected to operating members and mounted for movement thereby to and from the operative position thereof, means mounted for universal movement by said resilient member inter-engaging said mechanisms and releasably retained from movement relative thereto in the circuitclosed condition thereof, said resilient member when moved to the operative position thereof biasing said mechanisms through said inter-engaging means in opposition to the bias thereon, and means freeing said linking means for pivotal movement upon the occurrence of predetermined current in one of the circuits whereby to relieve said opposing bias sufnciently for said circuit breakers to be moved to the circuitopen condition thereof, said inter-engaging means comprising a ball lever mounted for universal movement in said resilient means and having laterally extending portions engageable with said mechanisms.

5. In a multi-pole circuit breaker having a pair of circuit-breaker mechanisms each having a stationary contact, a movable contact member engageable and disengageable therewith and normally biased for movement from the oi'cuitclosed to the circuit-open condition thereof, manually operable actuating -leans for effecting the engagement thereof, and a control member for eiifecting the disengagement thereof; said actuating means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said contact member releasably connected thereto said control member .in said circuit-closed condition, a link mounted for universal movement and retained against said movement in the circuit-closed condition of the circuit breaker by releasable engagement between said levers, and a resilient member in which said link is mounted for biasing said mechanisms in opposition to bias thereon, said releasable engagement of link said levers including lost motion connections for said movement of said link upon release of one of said levers upon the occurrence of predetermined current in the circuit of the mechanism of said one lever whereby to relieve saii opposing bias sufficiently for said circuit breakers to be moved to the circuit-open condition thereof.

6. In a multi-pole circuit breaker having a pair of circuit-breaker mechanisms each having a stationary contact, a movable contact member engageable and disengageable therewith and normally biased for movement from the circuit-closed to the circuit-open condition thereof, manually operable actuating means for eifecting the enga-gement thereof, and a control member for effecting the disengagement thereof; said actuating means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said contact member and releasably connected thereto by sai control me i-- ber in said circuit-closed cor on, a link mounted for universal movement and retained against said movement in the circuit-closed con` dition of the circuit breaker by releasable engagement between said levers, a resilient member in which said link is mounted for biasing said mechanisms in opposition to the bias thereon, said releasable engagement of se d link and said levers including lost motion connections for said movement of upon release of one of said levers upon the occurrence of predetermined current the circuit of the mechanism oi one lever whereby relieve said opposing bias sufnciently for said circuit breakers to be moved to the circuit open condition thereof, said lost motion connections com prising slotted means defined in said levers provided with a constricted portion, said link being retained in said constricted portions in the circuit-ciosed condition being released therefrom for movement into at least one oi said upon said unlatching.

le circuit-breaker having a plurality Y nvms each having a stationary contact, a movable contact member cngag'eable and disengageable therewith, actuating means for operatively effecting the engagement thereof and a control member for efecting the disengagement thereof in response to predetermined current in the circuit, said movable member being biased for movement from the circuit closed to the circuit open position thereof, said control member being bodily carried by said movable member and said actuating means releasably connected thereto pivotally carried thereby and being in fsaid circuit closed condition by said control member link means mounted between said actuating means' and retained against move'- inent relative thereto in the circuit-closed con-l dition of said mechanisms, resilient means carrying said link means for biasing said mechanisms in opposition to the bias thereon, and lost motion connections between said link means and said actuating means' operable upon release of one or said actuating means by the companion control member to relieve said opposing bias for moving said mechanisms to the open condition thereof.

In a multi-pole' circuit breaker having a plurality of mechanisms each having a stationary contact, a movable contact member engageable and'disengageable therewith, actuating means for operatively effecting the engagement thereof and a control member for eiecti'ng the disengagement thereof in response to predetermined cur "1"* in the circuit, said movable member bewill: ing biased for movement from the circuit closed to the circuit open position thereof, said control member being bodily carried by said movable member and said actuating means being pivotally carried thereby and releasably connected thereto in said circuit closed condition by said control member link means mounted between said actuating ineens and retained against movement relative thereto in the circuit-closed condition of said mechanic; i, resilient means carrying said link means 'for biasing said mechanisr'ns in opposition to the bias thereon, and lost motion connections between said link means and said actuating means operable upon release of one oi said actuating means by the companion control member to relieve said opposing bias for moving said mechanisms to the open condition ther-eci, said resilient means being a spiral spring member and said link means being a ball link nicunted tor universal movement therein.

9. In a multi-pole circuit breaker having a plurality of mechanisms each having a stationary Contact, a movable contact member engageabl'e and disengageable therewith, actuating means for operatively effecting the engagement thereof and a control member for effecting the disengagement thereof in response to predetermined current in the circuit, said movable member being biased for movement from the circuit closed to the circuit open position thereof, said control member being bodily carried by said movable member and said actuating means being pivotally carried thereby and releasably connected thereto in said circuit closed condition by said control member a universal joint mounted between said actuating means and retained against movement relative thereto in the circuitclosed condition of said mechanisms, resilient means carrying said joint for biasing said mechanisms in opposition to the bias thereon, and means freeing said joint for movement relative to said actuating means upon release of one or' said actuating mea-ns by the companion control member whereby to relieve said opposing for moving said mechanisms to the open condition thereof, said resilient means sing a spiral. spring member and said joint being a ball link mounted for universal movement therein, said ball link having laterally extending parts and said jointfreeing means being a slot defined in each actuating means and having a constricted portion, said parts being retained in said constricted portions in the circuit-closed condition and being released therefrom for movement into at least one of said slots upon said. disengagement of strip.

10. Actuating means for a multi-pole circuit breaker having a plurality of movable contact members normally biased for movement to circuit-open condition and each provided with a lever pivotally mounted thereon and carrying a flexible member in normal engagement with said lever to prevent relative pivotal movement, comprising resilient means mounted. for movement to and from an operative position for biasing said movable members to circuit closed condition, and link means carried by said resilient means' and normally movable relative thereto, said link means being retained by said levers against said movement in the circuit-closed condition and being released for movement upon the disengagement of a flexible member from its companion lever for relieving the bias of said resilient means whereby the normal bias of said movable members is eective to move the latter to said circuit-open condition.

1l. Actuating means for a multi-pole circuit breaker having a plurality of movable contact members normally biased for movement to circuit-open condition and each provided with a lever pvotally mounted thereon and carrying a flexible member in normal engagement with said lever to prevent relative pivotal movement, comprising pivotally mounted operating means, resilient means mounted for movement thereby to and from an operative position for biasing said movable members to circuit-closed condition, and link means carried by said resilient means and normally movable relative thereto, said link means being retained by said levers against said movement in the circuit closed condition and being released for movement upon the disengagement of a flexible member from its ccmpanion lever for relieving the bias of said resilient means whereby the normal bias of said movable members is effective to move the latter to said circuit-open condition.

12. Actuating means for a multi-pole circuit breaks' having a plurality of movable Contact members normally biased for movement to circuit-open condition and each provided with a lever pivotally mounted thereon and carrying a flexible member in normal engagement with said lever to prevent relative pivotal movement, comprising resilient means mounted for movement to and from an operative position for biasing said movable members to circuit-closed condition, and link means carried by said resilient means and normally movable relative thereto, said link means being retained by said levers against said movement in the circuit-closed condition and being released for movement upon the disengagement of a flexible member from its companion lever for relieving the bias of said resilient means whereby the normal bias of said movable members is eiective to move the latter to said circuit-open condition, said levers each having deiined therein a slot provided with a restricted portion, said link means comprising a ball member having laterally extending parts each retained in a restricted portion in the circuit-closed condition and released therefrom for movement into at least one of said slots upon said disengagement or" a flexible member.

13. In a multi-pole circuit breaker having a plurality of movable contact members normally biased for movement to circuit-open condition and each provided with a lever pivotally mounted thereon and carrying a flexible member in normal engagement with said lever to prevent relative movement, the combination with said levers of resilient means mounted for movement to and from an operative position for biasing said movable members to circuit-closed condition, and link means carried by said resilient means and normally movable relative thereto, said link means being retained by said levers against positive movement in the circuit-closed condition and being released for positive movement upon the disengagement of a flexible member from its companion lever for relieving the bias of said resilient means whereby the normal bias of said movable members is eiective to move the latter to said circuit-open condition.

lli. In a multi-pole circuit breaker having a plurality of movable Contact members normally biased for movement to circuit-open condition each provided with a lever pivotally mounted thereon and carrying a exible member in normal engagement with said lever to prevent relative movement, the combination with said levers ci pivotally mounted operating means, resilient means mounted for movement thereby to and from an operative position for biasing said movable members to circuit-closed condition, and link means carried by said resilient means and normally movable relative thereto, said link means being retained by said levers against positive movement in the circuit closed condition and being released for positive movement upon the disengagement of a flexible member from its companion lever for relieving the bias oi said resili nt means whereby the normal bias or said movable members is effective to move the latter to said circuit-open condition.

15. In a multi-pole circuit breaker, a pair of casings each adapted to contain a circuit breaker mechanism, said casings being disposed in surface abutting disposition, the abutting surfaces thereof being provided with aligned apertured portions, and means mounted for universal movement said apertures and extend- .ing therefrom for engagement with said mechanisms for ccncomitantly actuating the latter.

lo'. in a multi-pole circuit breaker having a pair of circuit-breaker mechanisms each having a stationary contact, movable contact member engageable and disengageable therewith and normally biased for movement from the circuitclosed to the circuit-open condition thereof, manually operable actuating means for eiiecting the engagement thereof, and a control member for eirecting the disengagement thereof; said actuating means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said contact member and releasably connected thereto by said control member in said circuit-closed condition, a link mounted for universal movement and retained against said movement in the circuit-closed condition of the circuit breaker by releasable engagement between said levers, a resilient member in which said link is mounted for biasing said mechanisms in opposition to the bias thereon, said releasable engagement of said link and said levers including lost motion connections for said movement of said link upon release of one of said levers upon the occurrence of predetermined current in the circuit or the mechanism of said one lever whereby to relieve said opposing bias suiciiciently for said circuit breakers to be moved to the circuit-open condition thereof, said levers having portions adapted for frictional engagement with th ir respective contact members for releasably retaining said levers in stationary position relative to their respective Contact members, upon release of the latter to prevent free or uncontrolled moveinent of each actuat r upon release thereof by its companion control member.

17. In a multi-pole circuit breaker pair of circuit-brosser .echanisms each having a stationary Contact, a movable contact member engageable and disengageable therewith and normally biased for movement from the circuitclcsed to the circuit-open condition thereof, manually operable actuating means for effecting the engagement thereof, and a control member for effecting the disengagement thereoi; said a"- tuating means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said contact member and releasably connected thereto by said flexible member in said circuit-closed condition, a link mounted for universal movement and retained against said movement in the circuit-closed condition of the circuit breaker by releasable engagement between said levers, a resilient member in which said link is mounted for biasing said mechanisms in opposition to the bias thereon, said releasable engagement oi said link and said levers including lost motion connections for said movement of said .fr upon. release of one of said levers upon. the occurrence of predetermined current in the circuit of the mechanism of said one lever tv ereby to relieve said opposing bias suiciently for said circuit breakers to be moved to the circuit-open condition thereof, and a pair of casings each adapted to contain one of said circuit breaker mechanisms, respectively, said. ca. ings being disposed in surface abutting disposition, the abutting surfaces thereof being provided with aligned apertured portions, said link being disposed iu said apertures and extending thereiron'i :for said engagement thereoic between said levers.

18. In a multi-pole circuit breaker having a pair of circuit-breaker mechanisms each having a stationary contact, a movable contact member engageable and disengageable therewith and normally biased for movement from the circuitclosed to the circuit-open condition thereof, manually operable actuating means for effecting the engagement thereof, and a control mercber for effecting the disengagement thereof; said actuating means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on contact member: and roleasably connected thereto by said control m ber in said circuit-closed condition, a link mounted for universal movement and retained against said movement in the circuit-closed condition of the circuit breaker by reieasable engagement between said levers, a resilient meniber in which said link is mounted for biasing said mechanisms in opposition to the bias thereon, said releasable engagement of said li k and said levers including lost motion connections for said movement of said link upon release of one of said levers upon the occurrence ci predetermined current in the circuit of the mechanism having of said one lever whereby to relieve said opposing bias suiciently for said circuit breakers to be moved to the circuit-open condition thereof, said levers having portions adapted for irictional engagement with their respective contact members for releasably retaining said levers in stationary position relative to their respective contact members, upon release of the latter to prevent free or uncontrolled movement of each actuator upon release thereof by its companion control member, a pair or" casings each adapted to contain one of said circuit breaker mechanisms, respectively, said casings being disposed in surface abutting disposition, the abutting surfaces thereof being provided with aligned apertured portions, said link being disposed in said apertures and extending therefrom for said engagement thereof between said levers.

19. A multi-pole circuit breaker having a movable contact member for each pole, an actuator for each movable contact member, a control device for each movable contact member to connect the companion actuator releasably thereto and to disconnect the actuator from the companion movable contact member, means for moving the released contact member to circuitinterrupting position, and universal joint means interconnected between said actuators and operable upon release oi one of said movable contact members from its actuator under the control of the control device at one pole to effect movement of a contact member at another or said poles to its circuit-interrupting position, said universal joint means including spring means acting on each movable contact member to provide contact pressure at each pole the circuit-'closed condition oi the circuit breaker.

20. A multi-pole circuit breaker having a movable contact member for each pole, an actuator 'for each movable contact member, a control device for each movable contact member to connect the companion actuator releasably thereto and to disconnect the actuator from the companion movable Contact member, means for moving the released contact member to circuitinterrupting position, and means interconnected betr/een said actuators and operable upon release of one of said movable contact members from its actuator under the control of the control device at one pole to effect movement of a contact member at another or" said poles to its circuit-interrupting position, said interconnected means including a lost-motion connection at each actuator so that movement of the released actuator at one pole is not impeded by a non-released actuator at another pole.

2l. A multi-pole circuit breaker having a movable contact member for each pole, an actuator for each movable contact member, a control device for each movable contact member to connect the companion actuator releasably thereto and to disconnect the actuator from the companion movable contact member, means for moving the released contact member to circuitinterrupting position, and universal joint means interconnected between said actuators and operable upon release or one of said movable contact members from its actuator under the control of the control device at one pole to effect movement oi a contact member at another of said poles to its circuit-interrupting position, said universal joint means including a lost-motion connection at each actuator so that movement or the released actuator at one pole is not impeded by a non-released actuator at another pole.

22. A. multi-pole circuit breaker having a movable contact member for each pole, an actuator' for each movable contact member, a control device for each movable contact member to connect the companion actuator releasably thereto and to disconnect the actuator from the coinpanion movable contact n einher, means for moving the released contact member to circuit-interrupting position, and universal joint means interconnected betvveen said actuators and operable upon release ci one of said movable contact meinbers from its actuator1 under the control of the control device at one `pole to effect movement of a contact member at another or said poles to its circuit-interrupting position, said universal joint means including a lost-motion connecton at each actuator so that movement of the released actuator at one pole is not impeded by a non-released actuator at another pole, and said universal joint means also including spring means acting on each movable contact member to provide contact pressure at each pole in the circuit-closed condition of the circuit breaker.

23. A multi-pole circuit breaker having a movable contact mem-'oer for each pole, an actuator for each movable contact member, a control device for each movable contact member to connect the companion actuator releasably thereto and to disconnect the actuator from the companion movable contact member, means for moving the released contact member to circuit-interrupting position, and means interconnected between said actuators and operable upon release of one oi said movable contact members from its actuator under the control of the control device at one pole to eiect movement of a Contact member at another of said poles to its circuit-interrupting position, said interconnected means including a lost-meten connection at each actuator so that movement of the released actuator at one pole is not impeded by a non-released actuator at another pole, said lost motion connection comprising slots defined in the actuators in which parts of the interconnected means have limited movements.

2e. In a circuit breaker having a movable contact member, an actuator therefor, a control device to connnect the actuator releasably to said movable contact member and to disconnect the actuator therefrom upon overload, and means for moving said movable contact member to circuitinterrupting position upon release thereof by said actuator, that improvement which comprises provision for releasably engaging said actuator and said movable Contact member upon said release of the latter upon overload for releasably retaining said `actuator in stationary position relative to the movable contact member to prevent free or uncontrolled movement of the actuator when the control device releases the latter.

25. A multi-pole circuit breaker having a movable contact member for each pole, an actuator for each movable contact member, a control device for each movable contact member to connect the companion actuator release-bly thereto and to disconnect the actuator from the companion movable contact member, means for moving the released contact member to circuit-interrupting position, and means interconnected between said actuators and operable upon release ci one of said movable contact members from its actuators under the control of the control device at one pole to ei'ect movement of a Contact member at another of said poles to its circuit-interrupting position, said interconnected means including a lost-motion connection at each actuator so that movement of the released actuator at one pole is not impeded by a non-released `actuator at another pole, and means for releasably engaging each actuator and its companion movable contact member upon release of the latter to circuit-interrupting position thereof for releasably retaining said actuator in stationary position relative to the movable contact member to prevent free or uncontrolled movement of the actuator when the control device releases the latter.

PAUL M. CHRISTENSEN.

ALEXANDER R. NORDEN.

References Cited in the le of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Christensen July 30, 1940 Bentley Feb. 25, 1941 Humpage Jan. 18, 1949 Reynolds Mar. 22, 1949 Platz May 31, 1949 Platz Apr. l1, 1950

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