US2666825A

US2666825A - Plural phase reclosing circuit breaker

Info

Publication number: US2666825A
Application number: US100787A
Authority: US
Inventors: James M Wallace
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1949-06-23
Filing date: 1949-06-23
Publication date: 1954-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1971-01-19

Description

J. M. WALLACE PLURAL PHASE RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER use Jan. 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1949 2 7 4 .m n m m s .m

- 2 l 8 9 & 4 5 9 5 8 4 4 I W Fig.2.

Fig.3.

INVENTOR JumesM.Wo|loce.-

WITNESSES:

Patented Jan. 19, 1954 PLUR AL PHASE RE CLO SING CIRCUIT BREAKER JimesMZ Wallace,=East McKeesport',"Pa., assignor tin Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh; Pat, a corporation of Pennsylvanla' Application June 23', 1949, Serial No. 100,787

14': Claims; (CL 200-89)- 1 This invention -relates generallyto plural phase automatic reclosing circuit-- breakers; and more particularly toa particulararrangement for locking' such breakers iii-oped circuit position on the" occurrence of persistent overloads 'on thecircuit.

When an overlbad occur's on-but onephase of a polyphase circuitt' it is desirable that only that phase 'of-thepircuit be opened in"-attempting to clear line-to ground faults! However; if thecon dition causing'theoverload persists; as upon reclosing the-- overloaded phase one or more 4 times; it 'isdesirable to*leavetliat 'circuitopen for repair purposes,v anditis then deslrable-thatall phases of the circuitbeheld open.

Accordingly; one-objeet" of" this invention" is to provide a polyphaserautomatic reclosing circuit breaker with novelmeans'permitting independent sin-gle-phasecircuit opening in response to over loads, but operable in-responseto a-predetermined' number of closely successive-operations"-in"anyparticularphase to'iautomatically" maintainall phases of "the circuitbpen;

Another object" ofithis invention is to provide a multi-p'ole automatic" reel'osing circuit breaker of the type described; wherein each pole has an independent" structure supplyingits own energy foropening thecircuit conn'ected with that pole;

and in response to a predetermined' number of closely successive-circuitopening*-"operationsof a single pole will automatically," "cause all poles to open andbe mainta-inedat openpircuit posi= tion:

Another object of this invention is 'to provide amulti pole- "automatic*-reclo'sing circuit breaker of the typedesc'ribedziwliereiu each pole hasan' independent structure supplyingi'it's: own energy" following"detaileddescription "ofapreferred embodiment 'thereofiiwlien taken with the att'ached drawings; imwhich V Figure-i is-a-longituuina1' sectionwiewthrou'gh the tank for a "'thre'e pole automatiei"'reclosing circuit" breaker 'embodyingf'this-invention: with: the pole units and .;operating "mechanism shown" elevation? Figi'Wis' monies view"oftliecircuifibreaker become more apparent"uponfconsideration of the v shown in' Fig.- l withthe tank cover removed; and Fig. 3 is a transverse cross section view-taken" substantially on'the 1ineIII--III of Fig; l.

The embodiment" of the inventionillustrated on the drawings'is a three-pole automatic re-- closing circuit breaker mounted in a metal tank 2 having a closed'bo'ttom (not shown) and an open top, with a fian'geAat the top. The circuit breaker pole units andope'ra-tin mechanism are all mounted on a transversely extending supporting plate 6 which is suspended from'the topot tank 2 b'y a plurality ofangular supporting brack ets 8, welded or otherwise'secured to'supporting" plate 6,and restingon th'e'top edge and flange l of tank 22- supporting'plate Bis" adapted w be secured in the position shown inFig. 1 by securement ofa cover Ill-to tank 2. Cover'lll has an internal lip l2 a'd'apted to 'fit'inside tank tween supporting brackets 81 Three pole units '16; 'I8 and zn are illustrated asbeing suspended-fromsupporting'plate 6; with each unit-beingsuspended by'a pair of rods 22;

preferably of insulating material, such as a molded insulating material, which are secured to supporting plat'e'fi a's-by'bolts' 24 at the upper ends of rods 22, andat theirlow'er ends are se cured to'a solenoid coil structure-26'; Each solenoid' coilstructurei fi 'is adaptedto support an interrupter chamberim for example; as by one or more supporting plates28joining the coil structure and interrupter chamber 30. It will thus be observedthatpolaunits l6, i8"an'd 2 0 are unitarily' supported with' supporting plate 6', and all may be removed from-"tank 2 "as aunit, by'

merely removing tan'k' cover I 0 and lifting supporting plate B-upwardly.

The pole units It, l8"and'ZOareidenticaI in" form, and are sub'stanti'allyf identical with the poleunit of the single pol'e"automatic reclosi'ng" circuit breaker shown in'th'e patent to J. M. Wallace No: 2,333,604, iSS'lId November 2, 1943;"

the sameassign'ee as'this in'vention. Accord ingly; for a moredetail'eddescription of the pole units and theirmodeoffoperation, reference is' hereby madeto the above-nientionedWallace patent. In general, each 'pole unit includes the solenoid coil structure" 26Jpreviously mentioned;

and interrupter chamber 30f withthe latter comprising atube 32" ofinsulat'ingtmaterial', such, 1 for example; asfiberor thelike, having;atop .-cap.;36 "and'a bottomcap '34" secured on opposite ends of and it is adapted to be engaged by a movable contact 48 mounted on the lower end of a movable contact rod 42. Contact rod 42 extends upwardly through a central opening in top cap 36 of the interrupterchamber, and is provided with an insulating sleeve 44 to insulate the rod from top cap 36.

As described in the above-mnetioned Wallace patent, interrupter chamber 38 is designed to be substantially entirely enclosed at least when the circuit is being interrupted therein, so that movable contact 48 need be separated from fixed contact 38 but a r latively smallamount by the actuating mechanism, because thereafter the pres sure generated by the arc formed by such initial contact separation will act on movable'contact' 48 in a piston-like manner to increase its separation from fixed contact 38 until-the arc is finally extinguished.

Contact actuating rod 42 extends upwardly through a central opening in coil structure 26, and at its upper end is joined to a pair of connecting links 48, preferably of insulating material s uch'as fiber or the like, as by a pivot pin 46, with these links in turn being pivoted at 58 to an ac tuating lever 52 in the case of pole units I8 and 20, while in the case of pole unit I6 connecting links 48 are pivoted to an actuating lever 54. Both actuating lever 52 and actuating lever 54 are pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 56, which extends for a limited distance transversely of the circuit breaker tank above supporting plate 5, allfor a purpose to be described.

In order to provide for limited initial separation of movable contact 40 from fixed contact 38, a solenoid core 58, which is generally circular in section, closely slidably fits in a cylindrical bore provided within solenoid coil structure 28, and core 58 has a central opening closely slidably fiting on actuating rod 42. At its upper end core 58 is adapted to move between cylindrical bore 68 andan actuating sleeve 62 mounted on actuating rod 42,.and having a head 64 at itsupper end which limits downward movement of actuating sleeve 62.

The circuit through the breaker may now be traced from the points where it enters tank 2 through insulating bushings I56 provided in cover ID, with the circuit to pole unit I6 for example entering by way of a conductor I58 to its solenoid coil structure 26, and thence by a conductor I58 to its contact actuating rod 42, through the

contacts

40, 38 and by way of a conductor I62 to another bushing I56. Similarly, pole unit I 8 is supplied from a bushing I58 by a conductor I64 leading to its solenoid coil 26, then by a conductor I66 to its contact actuating rod 42, through its contacts and out by Way of a conductor I68 and another bushing I56. The supply to pole unit 28 is from a bushing I56 by a conductor IIfl to its solenoid coil 26, and exits by way of a con ductor 'II2 to another bushing I56. Small bushings' I I4 of insulating material are provided in supporting plate 6 where each of the bushing conductors passes through this plate. While bushings I56 and H4 maybe of any desired insulating material, they are preferably of a material such as porcelain, which is of a weather-proof nature, particularly bushings I56.

It will thus be observed that the solenoid coil 26 of each of the pole units is connected in series in the circuit through that unit, so that upon the occurrence of an overload in the circuit of that particular unit its solenoid coil 26 will attract its core 58 and move it upwardly. Such upward movement of a solenoid core 58 is delayed, however, by the dashpct action of the core in cylindrical bore 60, so that opening of the contacts will be delayed until core 58 has moved upwardly far enough so that its bottom wall engages the lower end of actuating sleeve 62. As core 58 continues its upward movement, actuating sleeve 62 will be lifted so, that its head 64 engages shoulder 66 on actuating rod 42 to lift the rod and its contact 48, and thus separate the latter from fixed contact 38 to strike an arc. The are thus struck will then be extinguished within interrupting chamber 30 in th manner previously described, and it will be observed that movable contact 40 is free to be moved by the pressure generated within the interrupter chamber, beyond the point it is moved by solenoid core 58, because of the lost motion between the core and contact rod 42.

After a circuit opening operation, the movable contact 48 of each pole unit is biased to automatically reclose the circuit by means which will be described hereinafter, and since it is desirable to delay the closing operation, an arrangement is provided for conforming at least the initial part of contact closing movement to downward travel of solenoid core 58 which is, of course, delayed by its dashpot action in cylindrical bore 60. To this end, there is provided a latch supporting plate 68 mounted on contact rod 42 just above the top of interrupter chamber38, which pivotally supports at I8 a latch plate I8, with the latter having one opening freely receiving contact rod 42, and a second smaller opening 14 which is adapted to bind on a fixed latch rod I6, to releasably latch contact rod 42 at a plurality of open circuit positions. Latch plate I8 is biased in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, by a coil compression spring 12 mounted on contact rod 42. During a circuit opening operation,

any tendency of opening I4 in the latch plate to bind on rod I6 is prevented by clockwise rotation of latch plate I8 against its biasing spring I2. However, as soon as contact rod 42 starts to move downwardly to close the circuit, opening I4 in the latch plate will bind on rod I6 due to counterclockwise movement of latch plate I8 assisted by. its spring I2,-and accordingly the contacts will be latched at the open circuit position they attained when the circuit was interrupted, and will be released only when core 58 moves downwardly to engage the outer end of latch plate I8 and rotate it in a clockwise manner. The contact 48 will thus have its closing movement conformed with that of core 58 at least until the lower reduced end of latch rod I6 is reached, at which pointopening I4 in latch plate I8 will be no longer efiective to bind on such reduced portion of rod I6, and the final portion of contact closing movement will thus occur relatively quickly.

Each pole unit'is also provided with its own mechanism for counting closely successive operations of the unit, and this means is also similar to that described in the previously mentioned Wallace patent, in that it includes a counting cylinder 88 mounted on top of the coil structure 26 of each pole unit, and a counting piston. 82 slidably mounted in each cylinder 80. Each counting piston 82 has a plurality of upper reduced area ratchet portions 84 which are adapted to be engaged by the upper end of a substantially U-shaped pawl member 86, which has access to the iratchetipoiticns 84' :by 'meansoran opening out i'n *one' slde of cylinder '88. Pawl 86 its big-ht portion longitudinally split to receive the upper end of contact aotuating' ro'd '42 and guide rod 88, so that' the bottom leg "of "the ratchet seats onhe'ad 64 cf aotuatingsleeve- 62, and has an opening to slidably receive the pawl guide rod -88 fixed in position at the top "of solenoid coil structure 2-6. Pa'wl '86 is biased to "the position shown in Fig. 1 by men 'e'ompression spring 80 mounted 'on guide r'o'd 88.

It will be observed "that each time -;'ahtuating sleeve '62 is moved upwardly to separaite the contacts of its ipole unit, 'it will tilt paw-1 86 into engagement with the upper ratchet portion of counting piston:82- and movethe latt'er upwardly a predetermined amount. inasmuch asthe "entire structure is adapted to be immersed in an arc extinguishing fluid, such as oil, which pi'feferably fills'tank 2 to a level nearly up 'to'supporting plate 6, "counting piston "82 is arranged so that such fluid is drawn into thelower end of "counting cylinder "30 by means of a one-way check valve or the like (not shown), so that when the circuit recloses and pawl 86 resets to the position shown in Fig. 1, counting piston 82 remains at'the position to which it was advanced ior a definite time period. "However, if the circuit breaker does-not immediately reopen, counting piston-82 willslowly sinkto its normal position as liquid dravvnintothe'bottom-ofcounting cylinder 88 slowly leaksthrough the relatively small-clearance between the counting piston and its cylinder. However, if the "overload causing initial opening of the circuit-on the particular pole unit persists upon first automatic reclosing of-the contacts-ofsuh unit, it will immediately reopen its circuit, and this time pawl '86 will engage the next lower "ratchet'iportion "'84 of thecounting piston and raise the latter 'a further amount. It "wil1 thus be observed'thalt counting piston 82 will be progressively *advan'ded only in response 'to closely successive operations of its pole unit, to thus indicate by its position the number of such operations. Moreover, counting piston 82 will not count operations of its pole unit which are spaced apart widely enough in point of time to permit'th'e countingpistonto reset to its normal position.

Theactuating levers 52 for the contactirods of poleunits I8 and 28 are lo'catedwithin U s'haped members 92,'respectively,'which havethe leg'portions thereof pivotally mounted on 'pivot "shaft 56. It will be observed that'pivdtshaft 561s supported at its ends by journalbrackets 55 which'are substantially U-shapecl in'section'with the bight portions thereofsecured to mounting plate 6, and having bearingopeni'ng's in its arms for supporting pivot jsha'ft 56. Within each U- sliaped member '92, there is provided a contact closing sprin'g'94 having one end '96 reacting against the bight portion of its member 92,and the other end '98 thereof reacting against its actuating lever "5'2 to {bias the latter in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1") and *thu'sb'ias movable contact t'fl intoengagement with fixed contact '38 of the corresponding pole units I8 and 28. "Pole unit I6 has its actuating lever Sllocated'Withi'n a U-shaped member 99, and this, inturn, has a closing spring I80 located thereinabout pivot shaft-56, which reacts'betvveen the bight portion of u shaped-member "99 and actuating'leverfl to bias the latter in a counterclockwise fdireca tion (Fig. 1) fto bias movable'hontact II) 'fof'ipole unit [B -into =engaigementwith'* its "fixed "contact 88. The-camped member :68. Itor pole unit aI-B is also pivotally mounted on iipivot shaft 56 (as are the members :92. ifor lp'ole :units 518 and 20.

' m order to actuate' the contacts of 811 01 the pole uriits= to an open =ci-rcuit position :and hold them in such "a I-position, a lockeout spring I82 is provided in-cover IIO whi'ch reacts between a stationary U-sha'ped br'acket IM mounted on sup-' porting plate 6, and a. washer IOB'pin'IIed to an actuating link 188 --fslidably mounted through bracket-.104. It will be' observed that lock-Out "spring 102 biases a'otiialting' link 'I'=08 to the right, as viewed in the drawings, butthis spring is normally held :in'ac'tive in compressed condition by mechanism which will "now be described.

Aotuating link I68 is pivotal1y connected to U -shaped member' 69 for poleunit i6 as by-a pivot belt I I 6 "and is connected to the other "U shaped members '92 by a link I" I 2 pivoted'"to-=1ink I118 as at I I I, and to the u sliaped members by a "sha'it 116 connecting both U-shaped members 32 and pivotally extending through the lower end of a connecting link I I2. A link H8 is also pivoted to one arm of 'U-shaped member 99 at I28, and at its other end has a common pivot (22 for a guide'link I23 and a toggle lever I28. Guideiink 123 is pivoted on a. 'stationary 'bracket I26 mounted on suppoitin'g plate 6 as at 424, and toggle 'lever I2 8 connected *by -*a knee pivot pin 138 to a second toggle le'ver 132 which, in turn, is mounted on a -fixed pivot 13'4 supported *on a mounting bracket I48 welded or otherwise secured on one supporting bracktt 'for plate --'6. Toggle lever I32 prefex 'ably 'has 'an integral hendle' 'extension I36 which extends through a reduced opening in cover I8 and normally engages asto'p screw I38'also mounted *on bracket W8, beneath an integral hood portion 139 of cover I8, where the handle 'extension P36 is normally concealed from view. I

"In the position of toggle levers I281and F32 illustrated in'Fig. ljk'nee pivot *I3II is below/"a line connecting their end pivot points I22 and 134, so that lockout spring I'62 ispreventedfrom moving actuating "link "I86 "to the "right, or u-shaped member 99 -'c10ckwise aboutpivot shaft 56, or connecting link I18 to the left, because toggle knee pivot p'in "I 38 prevented from moving "any further "below-center by engagement or handle extension I36 with stop -screw I38. Moreover, 'U=shapedmem'bers62for pole units I8 "and. '28 'arelikewiseheld "at the positions shown in Figs. '1 and 2 by"virtue of their connection with actuating link I08 'through 'connecting'links I I2. Accordingly, in the position of the parts shown in Figs. '1 and' 2', the'contacts of the'p'oleunits, either individually orcollectively, "are free to be automatically sep'arated to open the circuit, and they willbe'automatically closedfollowing aci'rcuit opening operation by their respective closing springs *94 and I86 inasmuhas thereaction points of such springs fcomprising U-shaped members "92 and '88, are fhldfs'tationary "as described -'-above. However, the contacts of all of the pole units may be *m'anualw "opened by "pulling handle "extension 136 downwardly to thus move toggle "knee pivot pin I30 upwardly "over center, whereuponlockout-spring I82 is freed to move actuating {link I08 to the right, to "rotate 'U-shaped member Q9 "ina clockwisefmarmer, "so that the bight jportion "thereofengages the upper imam-{actuating lever for hole unit' I 6 to open icontactlt "offthat "pole unit, "and by "virtue fdf fifi in fit i k, f L nd .Qdnn ttme s f I '5 between *U-shaped members 92, *the latterare accuses moved in a counterclockwise direction so that their bight portions engage the upper ends of their respective actuating levers 52 to thus open the movable contacts 40 of pole units I8 and 20. Of course, lock-out spring I02 in addition to opening the-circuit through all of the pole units, will also hold the movable contacts of all the pole units at open circuit positions.

Following a manual opening of the circuits through all of the pole units, the contacts of all units may be manually closed merely by moving handle extension I36 upwardly to move toggle knee pivot pin I30 downwardly overcenter back to the position shown in Fig. l, where

U-shaped members

92 and 99 are returned to the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 where they may again furnish reaction points for closing springs 94 and I00, which then become effective to reclose the contacts of their respective pole units. It will be observed that when handle extension I36 has been moved downwardly to open the circuit, it will then occupy a position where it projects from beneath hood I39, to thus give a clear visible indication of the open circuit condition of all poles of the breaker.

In order to provide for automatic opening of the contacts of all poles in response to a predetermined number of closely successive operations of any one or more poles, there is provided a substantially triangular release plate I42 which is supported beneath supporting plate 6 by means of a plurality of supporting links I44 pivotally connected to brackets I48 at the top of release plate I42, and extending through openings at their upper ends to be pivotally mounted as at I48, on supporting plate 0. Links I44 thus support release plate I42 for up and down swinging movement while maintaining release plate I42 substantially in a horizontal position. An actuating rod I50 is secured at the apex of release plate I42 adjacent the wall of tank 2 as by being threadedly mounted. through an opening in the plate, and is secured at a longitudinally adjusted position by a lock nut I52. Actuating rod I50 extends up through an opening in supporting plate 6, and has a stop pin I54 extending therethrough to define the lowermost position of release plate I42, The upper end of actuating rod I50 normally lies adjacent to but just beneath toggle knee pivot pin I30,

It will now be observed that whenever counting piston 82 for any one of pole units I6, I8 or 20 is advanced upwardly as the result of a predetermined number of closely successive operations of its pole unit, preferably three or four operations, to engage release plate I42 and move it upwardly, that such upward movement of release plate I42 will cause its actuating rod I50 to also move upwardly into engagement with toggle knee pivot pin I 30 and move the latter upwardly over-center to release lock-out spring I02 and permit it to open the contacts of all of the pole units and hold them in such open position, just as when it was released by operation of handle I36, as previously described.

It can thus be seen that this invention contemplates automatic circuit opening and closing of any pole of a multi-pole automatic reclosing circuit breaker entirely independent of operation of the contacts of the other poles of the circuit breaker. However, the invention further provides an arrangement for opening the contacts of all poles of such a circuit breaker in automatic fashion in response to the occurrence of a predeterminednumber of closely successive operations of the contacts of any single pole of the breaker. Moreover, the particular arrangement of the parts is such that the contacts and all of their operating mechanism are supported in a unitary fashion ina tank and its cover, from the top rim of the tank, and is secured in position by securement of the cover to the tank.

Having described a preferred embodiment of the invention in accordance with the Patent Statutes, it is desired that the invention be not limited to this particular construction, inasmuch as it is obvious that it may be applied to multipole breakers having more or less than 3 poles, and even difiering in the particular pole structures and operating mechanism from that particularly disclosed here. Accordingly, it is desired that the invention be interpreted as broadly as possible.

I claim as my invention:

1. A multi-pole automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, a plurality of pole units disposed in a'common tank and each having separable contacts which are biased into engagement and electro-responsive means for separating the contacts so that the contacts of any pole unit may automatically open and close its circuit independently of the contacts of the other pole units, a single lock-out means having a common releasable means for maintaining it normally inactive but having elements including a single lockout spring to prevent closing of the contacts of all of the pole units when said lock-out means is activated, each of said pole units having counting means advanced by closely successive operations of its unit, said lock-out means having a part actuated by the advance of the counting means of said pole units, respectively, for releasing said releasable means and activating said lock-out means and thus preventing closing of the contacts of all pole units in response to a predetermined number of closely successive operations of any one of said pole units.

2. A multi-pole automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, a plurality of pole units disposed in a common tank and each having separable contacts which are biased into engagement and electro-responsive means forseparating the contacts so that the contacts of any pole unit may automatically open and close its circuit independently of the contacts of the other pole units, a single lock-out means having inactivating means normally making it inactive but having elements including a single biasing means to prevent closing of the contacts of all of the pole units when said lock-out means is activated, each of said pole units having counting means advanced by closely successive operations of its unit, said lock-out means having a common part actuated by the advance of the counting means of said pole units, respectively, for activating said lock-out means and thus preventing closing of the contacts of all pole units in response to a predetermined number of closely successive operations of any one of said pole units, and an operatinghandle connected with said lock-out means for operating the latter to active and inactive con ditions.

3. A multi-pole automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, a plurality of pole units each having separable contacts which are biased into engagement and electro-responsive means for separting the contacts so that the contacts of any pole unit may automatically open and close its circuit independently of the contacts of the other pole units, a; single lock-out spring for accuses;

actuating contaots M a-11o --saidspole; unitstoppeu. circuit position and holding, them there against: their closing bias, a common; rel'easable holding means normally: holding said lock-out spring at: an inactive position where it d'oes not interfere with op'eration. of said contacts, 'eachjof said pole units having counting means aduanced'by closely successive perations of its unit, said holding meanshaving a part actuatedby'the advance; of the counting means of said: pole units, respece tive-ly; forreleasing said releasable .aholding meansand thus permitsaidlock-:out-spr ing to move and hold the contacts of' a-ll "of: said pole: units at open. circuit position in responseto a predetermined number of closely successive operations of any: of

said pole units. 7

4:. A multi-pole automatic reciosing circuit breakencomprising, a pluralityof' pole units each having separable contacts which are biased into. engagement and electro-responsive means: for separating the contacts so that. the contacts of pol-e unit, may automatically open and close its circuit independently of the contacts. of the other poleuni-ts, asin-gle loclr=out spring for actuating contacts. 'ofgall of the poleunits to open, circuitpositicn and holding themthere against their closing bias, a singl-e releasable holding; means normally holding said lock-out spring. at an in:. active position where it does not interfere with operation of; said contacts, each, of said; pole units having counting means advanced. by; closely suctcessive. operations of its unit, said, holding means having a part, actuated by the advance of. the counting means of said pole units, respectively), for releasing said, holdingmeans and; thus permit said milk-Oil; spring to. move and hold the. contacts.- of: all. ofsaid pole units, at open circuit position in response to apredeterininetl' number car-closely successive operations of any of said pole units, and an operating handle connected with said lock-out springand holding means for operating the, spring and holding means. to. release and to reset said. spring.

5. A multipole automatic recl'osi'ng circuit breaker comprising, a metal tank having an open topand a cover for the top, a plurality-of spaced pole units supported from the 'top, of said contamer, each of said pole units including separable contacts which are biased closed and cream-aesponsive means roiseparati ng the contacts so that the contacts of any Tpole unit ma beeperat'ed to automatically open and close its circuit independently of the contacts of the other poleunits, a single lock-out. means which is normally inactive but having elements including only a single biasing means to prevent noses of thecontacts of all of'th'e pole units when saidlock out means is activated, each or said pole units having a counting member which is; advanced from its normal position a predetermined amount in response to each operation of its pole unit, means for slowly resetting each counting member to its normal position wherebyeach of said countmg members will be advanced an amount greater than, said predetermined amount only by a plug number of closely successiveope-rations o; itspole. -olli.

a a is:- estua ies;missi es means in response to such movement of said acof: close y succ si e. ne. at j or: its r e.

tivati ng member to thus rprevent closiug of; the contacts-0f all of'said pole units. V 1' 6. A- multi pole automatic re'jclo'sing circuit; breaker comprisingra metal tankhavingan "open top and-a cover for theytop, aplurality 0:65spaced:v pole units supported from the top or said 0011*; tamer, each of said pole units: includingfisem-L arable-contactswhich are biasedclosed'and electro-responsive means for separating the contacts so that the contacts of any pol-eunit may be up? erated ire-automatically open and close its cirei cuit independently of the contacts of the other pole units, a singlelocke-out means havingacorn:- mon; toggle, mechanism. for making normally inactive but having; elements to "prevent closing of the contacts of all of the pole units whenrsaid lock-out means is activated, each of said pole: units having a counting member which ad:- vanced upwardly from its normal position aprodetermined amount in response to each opera: tion of its pole unite-means retarding resetting movement of eachcounting member to. its normal position whereby each of said counting members will be advanced an amount greater tnan said predetermined-amount only; by a plurality of closely successive operations of. its poie units, a. movably mounted activating member common to: all the counting members having partsipositioned above said counting members, respectively, 'a; dis tance greater than said predetermined amount soas wbe engageu and moved by any 'olsa dcounting members in response to a predetermined number of operations of its poleun for actuating said toggle mecha'n v t-iv'ating said lock-but in response to movement of'said'a V 7 mg m mbe 'to thus p e vent closing of the contacts all ores-1a pus units. r v 7-. A mule-pole automatic reels-sin circuit breaker comprising, a metal tank having ane n top and a cover therefor, said tank bing-subst tially enemas- 1s erassseenon, a pier-alas: or pen units supported "from the top or care ta-n'k in spaced relation about the inte seia tanks each 'of said pole u its includ ng s'ep'a tacts which are biasedclbsed-andelectrof v, s-ive m ans for separating the contacts, so that tn contacts of any p'ole unit may be ope cited to aatomaticaliy open and close its ammimdepeim; ently of the contacts; or the other pole units, a sing e lock=out means having a common releasable means making it normally inactive but havin elements to prevent closing or the cbnta'ctsof all of the pole units when said lock-out means is activated, each of said pole units having a counting member which is advancedfrom its nor mal position a predetermined amount in response to each operation of its pole unit, means for slfo'wf 1y resetting each countin me ber to its normal-- position whereby each of said counting members will be advanced an amount greater than sa dpredetermined amount only by a plurality or closely successive operations of its pole units, a.

a said were;

. 8. A multi-pole automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, a plurality of pole units each having separable contacts which are biased into engagement and electro-responsive means for separating the contacts so that the'contacts of any pole unit may automatically open and close its circuit independently of the contacts of the other pole units, a single lock-out spring for actuating contacts of all of the pole units to open circuit position and holding them there against their closing bias, a single overcenter toggle means normally holding said lock-out spring at an inactive position where it does not interfere with operation of said contacts, each of said pole units having counting means advanced by closely successive operations of its unit, a movable mem ber positioned to be actuated by each of said counting means in response to a predetermined number of closely successive operations of its corresponding pole unit to move said toggle means overcenter and release said lock-out spring to thus permit it to move and hold the contacts of all of said pole units at open circuit position in response to a predetermined number of closely successive operations of any of said pole units.

9. A multi-pole automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, a plurality of pole nits each having separable contacts which are biased into engagement and electro-responsive means for separating the contacts so that the contacts of any pole unit may automatically open and close its circuit independently of the contacts of the other pole units, a single lock-out spring for ac tuating contacts of all of the pole units to open circuit position and holding them there against their closing bias, a common overcenter toggle means normally holding said lockout spring at an inactive position where it does not interfere with operation of said contacts, each of said pole units having means for counting closely successive operations of its unit, movable means positioned to be engaged and actuated by any one or more of said counting means in response to a predetermined number of closely successive operations of successive operations of any of said pole units,

and an operating handle connected to one link of said toggle means for operating the latter and the lock-out spring to reset and release said spring.

10. A multi-pole automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, a plurality of pole units each having separable contacts which are biased into engagement and electro-responsive means for separating said contacts, an operating lever movable with a movable contact of each pole unit, all of said operating levers being mounted on a common pivot axis which is substantially equidistant from said units, lock-out means also mounted for pivotal movement on said common axis, means biasing said lock-out means into engagement with said operating levers to move said levers to open the contacts of all of said units, releasable means normally holding said lock-out means out of the normal range of movement of said operating levers, and means responsive to a plurality of closely successive operations of the contacts of any of said pole units to release said holding means.

11. A multi-pole automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, a plurality of pole units each having separable contacts and electro-responsive means for separating said contacts, an operating lever movable with a movable contact of each pole unit, all of said operating levers being mounted on a common pivot axis which is substantially equidistant from said units, lock-out means also mounted for pivotal movement on said common axis, means biasing said lock-out means into engagement with said operating levers to move said levers to open the contacts of all of said units, releasable means normally holding said lock-out means out of the normal range of movement of said operating levers, individual means for the contacts of each pole unit for biasing the contacts closed, said biasing means reacting between the operating lever of its pole unit and said lock-out means, and means responsive to a plurality of closely successive operations of the contacts of any of said pole units to release said holding means.

12. A multi-pole automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, a plurality of pole units each having separable contacts which are biased into engagement and electro-responsive means for separating said contacts, an operating lever movable with a movable contact of each pole unit, all of said operatng levers being mounted on a common pivot axis which is located between at least two pole units of said breaker and is substantially equidistant from all of said units, lock-out means also mounted for pivotal movement on said common axis, means biasing said lock-out means into engagement with said operating levers to move said levers to open the contacts of all of said units, releasable means normally holding said lock-out means out of the normal range of movement of said operating levers, and means responsive to a plurality of closely successive operations of the contacts of any of said pole units to release said holding means.

13. A multi-pole automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, a metal tank having an open top and a cover therefor, a supporting member extending across said tank and being supported from the top of said tank, a plurality of pole units supported in spaced relation in said tank from said supporting member, each of said pole units including separable contacts which are biased closed and electro-responsive means for separating the contacts so that the contacts of any pole unit may be operated to automatically open and close its circuit independently of the contacts of the other pole units, a single lock-out means which is normally. inactive but having elements to prevent closing of the contacts of all of the pole units when said lock-out means is activated, each of said pole units having a counting member which is advanced from its normal position a predetermined amount in response to each operation of its pole unit, means for slowly resetting each counting member to its normal position whereby each of said counting members will be advanced an amount greater than said predetermined amount only by a plurality of closely successive operations of its pole units, a movably mounted activating member common to all of the counting members and having parts positioned in advance of said counting members, respectively, a distance greater than said predetermined amount so as to be engaged and moved by any of said counting members in response to a predetermined number of operations of its pole unit, means for activating said lock-out means in response to such movement of said activating member to thus prevent closing or the contacts of 13 all of said pole units, and said lock-out means also being supported in said tank on said supporting member.

14. A multi-pole automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising, a metal tank having an open top and a cover therefor, a supporting member extending across said tank and being supported from the top of said tank, a plurality of pole units supported in spaced depending relation in said tank from said supporting member, each of said pole units including separable contacts which are biased closed and electro-responsive means for separatin the contacts so that the contacts of any pole unit may be operated to automatically open and close its circuit independently of the contacts of the other pole units, a single lock-out means which is normally inactive but having elements to prevent closing of the contacts of all of the pole units When said lock-out means is activated, each of said pole units having a counting member which is advanced from its normal position a predetermined amount in response to each operation of its pole unit, means for slowly resetting each counting member to its normal position whereby each of said counting members will be advanced an amount greater than said predetermined amount only by a plurality of closely successive operations of its pole units, a movably mounted activating member common to all of the counting members, said actuating member having parts positioned in advance of JAMES M. WALLACE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,725,079 Hirst Aug. 20, 1929 1,769,563 Wood July 1, 1930 1,790,689 Wood Feb. 3, 1931 2,009,536 Warg July 30, 1935 2,178,083 Sandin Oct. 31, 1939 2,333,604 Wallace Nov. 2, 1943 2,459,327 Kyle et a1 Jan. 18, 1949 2,476,076 Walle et a1 July 12, 1949 2,530,298 Harper Nov. 14, 1950 2,567,411 Van Ryan Sept. 11, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Bulletin KC-lOl, Kyle Corporation, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Copy available in Div. 37.)