US2832917A - Anti pumping closing means for circuit breakers - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1958 c. l. CLAUSING ANTI PUMPING CLOSING MEANS FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS Filed April 16, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. 62/444 us I. 62 nus/Na 147' T PEA E V5 April 1958 c. 1. CLAUSING 2,832,917

ANTI PUMPING CLOSING MEANS FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS Filed April 16, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 504 Q o c E 6 .4040

SOURCE IN V EN TOR.

BY M 7 241 ArraeNiVs c. l. CLAUSING 2,832,917

ANTI PUMPING CLOSING MEANS FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS April 29, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 16, 1954 INVENTOR. C/mu/ss' I. Jaws/N0 United States Patent ANTI PUMPING CLOSING MEANS FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS Challiss I. Clausing, Collingswood, N. J., assignor to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 16, 1954, Serial No. 423,782

7 Claims. (Cl. 317-54) My invention relates to circuit breaker closing means and is more particularly directed to a novel mechanical and electrical arrangement whereby pumping of the closing mechanism for a circuit breaker is eliminated even though the control voltage for the closing means is taken directly from the line voltage.

A special problem exists in circuit breaker closing when the control voltage for the control relay and closing solenoid is taken from the same source being protected by the circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker is closed against a low impedance fault, the control voltage will decrease to a small fraction of the normal voltage at the instant the arcing contacts touch. At the instant of contact engagement, the over-current trip elements will start to move the trip mechanism. That is, if the circuit breaker is successful in closing, it will trip out due to the energization of the trip coil. However, the drop in voltage will cause the armature of the control relay to drop out and hence, both the control relay and the circuit breaker will be in position for a second closing cycle. That is, after the trip latch is tripped by the over-current device, the closing coil will again be energized when the circuit breaker interrupts the circuit and hence, be instrumental in closing the contacts by the closing coil because the previous momentary failure of control voltage has permitted the resting of the relay latch.

The control relay in the closing system may be of the type set forth in U. S. Patent 2,729,534, issued May 14, 1957, to Thumim, entitled Solenoid Control Delay for Circuit Breakers and assigned to the assignee of the instant application. A

These reclosing or pumping operations of the circuit breaker will continue as long as the control switch is maintained in closed position. Thus, the reclosing and opening of the circuit breaker will continue until failure or some change in the circuit element causes a change of conditions.

The purpose of my invention is to overcome this disadvantage encountered when the closing mechanism is energized from a control voltage taken from the same source being protected by the circuit breaker.

With the embodiment of my invention there is only one possible closing attempt by the closing solenoid for each operation of the control switch to the closed position.

The control relay to which my invention is particularly adaptable is described in the above mentioned copending application. This type of control relay has its armature and contacts normally latched together. Thus, when the control switch is moved to the closed position and the relay coil is energized, both the relay armature and the normally open contacts in the closing coil circuit are moved simultaneously. The closing coil will be energized and the closing plunger will be operated in a direction to move the circuit breaker operating parts to closed position.

At the completion of the stroke,.the closing plunger will trip and release the latch engagement between the "Ice control relay armature and the closing coil contacts. Thus, even though the control relay armature is maintained in the attracted position due to the continued energization of the control relay coil due to the completed circuit through the control switch, the energization for the closing solenoid will be interrupted due to the release of the latch and hence, if the circuit breaker is tripped open, no pumping will occur.

However, this prior art relay is designed so that the control relay armature is biased to its neutral position. Hence, following an attempted closing operation, the relay armature will be moved back to its original or neutral position to thereby relatch itself to the mechanism con trolling the contacts for the energization of the closing solenoid. In the prior art arrangement set forth in the above mentioned copending application, this relatching operation of the two units occurs whenever the control relay coil is de-energized.

Hence, if the control relay coil and closing coil obtain their control voltage from the same source being pro tected by the circuit breaker, temporary closing on a low impedance fault will cause a sufficient undesirable drop in the control voltage to cause the relay armature to drop out. As above noted, this leaves the entire system vulnerable for the pumping operation.

The pumping operation of the type above noted results from the fact that the closing plunger is permitted to resume its neutral position thereby effecting latch reengagement between the relay armature and the means controlling the contacts of the closing solenoid.

Since the disadvantage of the prior art is brought about as a result of the movement of the control relay armature from its energized position to its neutral position thereby permitting relatching between the armature and the closing coil contact member, I have found that I can eliminate this disadvantage by providing an arrangement wherein the relay armature remains in its energized position until it is intentionally reset to its neutral position by the operator. That is, following an attempted closing operation, when the relay armature is attracted to its energized position, it will remain in this position even though the line voltage or control voltage should drop.

With this arrangement, there will be no relatching be tween the relay armature and the closing control contact member even though the closing relay coil is temporarily de-energized. Hence, when the contacts of the circuit breaker are again moved to their open position and the line voltage restored, the re-energization of the relay coil will not result in the closing of the closing coil contacts since the member containing these contacts has not been relatched to the relay armature.

Before the operator can perform a second attempted closing operation, it will be necessary to move the relay armature from its energized position back to its neutral position to permit relatching between the armature and the closing coil contact member. With this operation, I provide a reset circuit by which the operator can move the relay armature back to its neutral position following a closing operation.

After the closing relay has been reset, all of the components are in their neutral position and capable of performing a secondintentional closing operation whenever the relay coil is again i e-energized by moving the control switch to the closed position.

Accordingly, a primary object of my invention is to provide a novel closing means for circuit breaker in which there is only one possible closing attempt per operation of the control switch to the closed position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel anti-pump device for circuit breaker closing means wherein following a closing operation, the relay armature will remain in its energized position'until intentionally reset to its neutral position by the operator.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a closing means which following an attempted closing oper ation will prevent the re-energization of the closing coil until the operator performs a resetting operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel closing means in which the relay armature is not automatically relatched to the closing coil contact control member following an attempted closing operation.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel design for circuit breaker closing means in which the relay armature and closing coil contact member are latched when both are in the neutral position and will become unlatched when the closing plunger has performed an attempted closing operation and will not relatch until an intentional resetting operation is performed by the operator.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure l is an exploded perspective view of the operating mechanism of a circuit breaker showing the cooperating contacts in the open position. This figure also illustrates the latched relay arrangement, the resetting mechanism therefor, and the closing solenoid.

Figure 2 is a side schematic view of the circuit breaker of Figure 1 and illustrates the automatic closing means of my invention used in connection with the circuit breaker. This figure illustrates the position of the various components during an attempted closing operation on a fault line when thecircuit breaker opens trip free.

Figure3 is a schematic view similar to Figure 2 of the circuit breaker of Figure l and illustrates the position of the various components when the circuit breaker is in the fully closed position.

Figure 4 is a schematic view similar to Figure 3 of the circuit breaker of Figure 1 and illustrates the position of the'parts during an initial automatic trip.

Figure 5 is a schematic view similar to Figures 3 and 4 of the circuit breaker of Figure 1 and illustrates the position of the various components when the circuit breaker is in a collapsed position.

Figure 6 is a schematic view similar to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the circuit breaker of Figure 1 and illustrates the position of the parts when the circuit breaker is in the completely open position.

The construction and operation of a typical circuit breaker to which the closing means of my invention may be adapted will now be described.

On the occurrence of an over-current condition, a trip coil will pull the armature 143 against its associated magnet pole piece. The armature 143 has a screw 145 threaded at one end thereof which is used to effect adjustable contact with the tripping member 146. The head 144 of the screw 14S acts to rotate the bar 140 upon the energization of the trip coil (not shown) and hits the extension plate 146 which is bolted to the shaft 140. When the head 144 hits the end of the extension plate 146, the shaft 140 is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise manner looking from the right of the circuit breaker which is the view of Figure 1.

It will be noted that additional means may be provided to rotate the shaft 140. That is, if the circuit breaker is in the closed position, the operator may wish to intentionally open the circuit breaker even though no fault exists on the line. This may be done in any manner wellknown in the art.

The rotation of shaft 140 causes the link 162 to be moved by means of an angle 163 which is bolted to the shaft 140 by means of two bolts. The angle 163 has an indentation 165 near the farthest edge 166 from the shaft 140. The link 162 has two slots 168 and 167. The slot 167 engages the indentation 165 of angle 163.

The translator'y movement of link 162 causes the rotation of a milled shaft 170. The milled shaft 170 has another angle 171 rigidly attached to it by means of two bolts 172. This angle has an indentation 173 near the end 174 which is farthest from the shaft 170. The indcntation 173 of angle 171 engages the slot 168 of link 162. Thus, the rotation of shaft causes the rotation of milled shaft 170. When milled shaft rotates to release the latch 177, as is hereinafter described, the circuit breaker movable contacts are allowed to be disengaged from the stationary contacts.

The angle 171 described above has an abutment 178. This abutment 178 is engaged by a roller 179 which is rotated manually by means of the closing handle 184 attached to the shaft 180. Shaft 180 has a crank 181 which is rigidly attached to the shaft 180 by means of a screw 182. The roller 179 is attached to one end of the crank 181. When the shaft 180 is rotated by the closing handle 184, the roller 179 engages the abutment 178 of angle 171 and rotated milled shaft 170. Thus, milled shaft 170 can be made to rotate by a plurality of methods. It can be made to rotate manually by means of closing handle 184; it can be made to rotate by means of an over-current condition in the trip coil (not shown); and it can be made to rotate by means of remote excitation of an opening coil 150.

The latch 177 is an integral part of trip arm 185. The latch 177 engages the milled shaft 170 so that a small revolution of shaft 170 releases the latch 177, as hereinafter described. The shaft 170 is milled slightly past center at 186. The trip arm 185 is pivoted at 187 on a long pin 188. The pin 188 is also engaged on the trip arm extension 189 at point 183. The movable arm 190 is pivoted on pin 188 at points 191 and 192 and extends beneath a roller 193. The roller 193 is the pivot point of a toggle mechanism consisting of two links 194 and 195 and is carried by a pin 202 which pivots the meeting of links 194 and 195.

The links 194 and 195 each comprise two arms, 194A and 194B, and 195A and 19513, respectively. Arms 194A, 194B are pivoted on floating pin 196, described above, and arms 195A, 195B are pivoted on pin 204.

The arms 194A, 194B support a rod 197 at 198 and 199, respectively. The rod 197 carries one end of a restoring spring 203 which is tensed by means of a stationary shaft 212, hereinafter described. The restoring spring 203 exerts a tension on the link 194 which tends to open or break the toggle mechanism. Link 194 is pivoted on a floating pin 196 which is supported by link arm 185 and its extension 189 being parallel to the pin 188. The other link 195 of the toggle is pivoted on movable link 200 which is connected by means of an adjustable insulator 201 to the movable contact assembly 61.

When the toggle mechanism consisting of links 194 and 195 is straightened out by means hereinafter described, pressure is put on movable link 200 by means of link 195 and bearing pin 204. The movable link 200 is pinned to insulator 201 by a pin 205 and moves so as to advance the insulator 201 and the movable contacts 61 towards the stationary contact 60.

In the exploded view shown in Figure 1, the contacts are open and the toggle mechanism consisting of links 194 and 195 is collapsed. The circuit breaker may be closed by a variety of methods. The circuit can be closed manually by means of shaft 180 rotated by closing handle 184, described above. If shaft 180 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 184A, the roller 179 will engage the bottom of arm 190 and force the arm 190 against roller 193, thus straightening out the toggle mechanism and closing the circuit breaker contacts.

The movable links 200 are under an opening tension by means of opening spring 210 so that if no additional looking action other than described above for supporting the toggle existed, thecircuit breaker would re-open immediately upon releasing the shaft 180. The locking device is supplied by means of a crank211 which isIocated on a shaft 212, mentioned above, whose longitudinal axis is parallel to the axis of the milled shaft 170 and the rod 140. The crank 211 has two arms 213 and 214. Thearm 213 is located, when the circuit breaker is open, adjacent the roller 193. When the roller 193 is forced upward, as due to the pressure of arm 190, the roller pushes against arm 213 of crank 211, rotating the crank 211 slightly on shaft 212. When the roller 193 has cleared the top of arm 213, the arm 213 snaps underneath the roller 193 due to the compression of a spring 220. The spring 220 which is wound on the shaft 212 has one end on an in dentation 221 of crank 211 and the other end borne against a shaft 222 which pierces the trip arm 185. The shafts 212 and 222 have been moved out of position in the exploded view for the sake of clarity. Actually, the shaft 222 pierces the trip arm 185 at point 207. Thelongitudinal axis of shaft 222 is essentially. parallel to the longitudinal axis of shaft 212 and milled shaft 170.

When the roller 193 is moved, straightening the toggle, it causes crank 211 to rotate compressing spring 220. The roller clears the top of arm 213 letting the crank rotate in' the opposite direction until the arm 213 is directly beneath and supporting the roller 193. The other arm 214 or crank 211 bears against the shaft 222 preventing further rotation of the crank 211'so that the arm 213 is stopped directly beneath the roller 193. The spring 220 is under compression normally so that the arm 214 is constantly bearing against the shaft 222. When the toggle is straightened, the rotation of the crank 211 moves the arm 214 away from the shaft 222 until the roller 193 clears the top of arm 213. Then the reverse rotation of the crank 211 occurs until the arm 214 again bears against shaft 212. Thus, when the toggle is straightened and the circuit breaker closed, the crank 211 locks the toggle and thus locks the circuit breaker in a closed position, as seen in Figure 3.

After closing the circuit breaker by means of the rotation of roller 179 against the arm 190, as described above, the closing handle 184 is returned to its normal position by means of a crank 230. The crank 230 is pivoted on a stationary pin 231.

The crank 181, described above, has an indentation 232 which meets a roller 233 of crank 230. The crank 230 supports a pin 234 which has a restraining spring 235 engaged at one end 236. The restraining spring 235 is attached to an angle 237 and is tensed on the pin 236, causing the crank 230 to rotate. The rotation of crank 230 causes the roller 233' to meet the indentation 232 returning the crank 181 to its normal position.

. The various positions of the operating mechanism are shown in Figures 3 and 6.

'Figure 3 shows the closed position thereof, with link 195 pushed forward to raise the crank 200 and close the contact arm or insulator 201 and with the roller 193 on the arm or abutment 213.

The latch arm 185 is shown in appropriate latching engagement with the milled shaft 170.

When the shaft 180, described above, is turned to release the mechanism, the condition as shown in Figure 5 results.

On the occurrence of tripping conditions, the milled shaft 170 is rotated to permit the latch arm 185 tomove into the milled section of position 186 of the milled shaft shaft 170, as seen in Figure 4.

Thenas seen in Figure 5, the roller 193 drops off the abutment 213 to open the circuit breaker.

Thereafter, as seen in Figure 3, the latch arm 185 is restored to its initial position and the milled. shaft 170 is restored to latching position so that the circuit breaker may again be moved from the open position of Figure 6 to the closed position of Figure 3.

The closing handle 184 returns to its neutral position automatically after tripping or closing the contacts.

,The circuit breaker may also be closed by means of a plunger 240, shown also in Figures 1 and 2. The plunger 240 is part of the core of a solenoid coil 241. A remote signal energizes the coil 241 and causes the plunger extension 240 to push against the roller 193 in a similar manner as the arm 190. The roller 193 is a cylinder and has the arm meet it on one half and the plunger extension 240 meet it at the other half. The plunger extension 240 raises the roller 193 straightening out the toggle mechanism and closing the circuit breaker with the locking action due to crank 211 similarly as described in reference to the manual closing of the circuit breaker.

The closing solenoid 241 is energized from a remote point in the following manner. When the circuit breaker is desired to be closed from a remote point, a button 500, in Figure 2, is depressed which energizes the relay coil 300. The energized coil acts as an electromagnet and attracts the movable armature 301 and its latched bracket The movable member 301 is pivoted in three places by pins 302, 303 and 304. The pin 302 is a fixed pivot but the other two pins, 303 and 304, are floating pivots. The pin 302 also supports an extension 305 of a movable bracket 306. The extension 305 is secured to the bracket 306 by means of three screws 307. The bracket 306 carries at one end the extension 305 and at the other end a *V-shaped contact 308. The contact 308 is movably connected to bracket 306 by means of two pins 309. The pins 309 are movable with respect to the bracket 306 and the contact 308. The bracket 306 and the contact 308 are held together by means of the spring 310 supported against the top of the pins 309. The contracted spring 310 forces the contact 308 against the bracket 306.

The movable member 301 has a laminated armature 312. The laminated armature 312 is rigidly attached to the member 301 by means of force fit .pins 313 and 314. The movable member 301 has also, as an integral part thereof, an angle, not shown, which bears a dielectric rectangular strip 315.

The screw 324, which engages bar 326 (as seen in Figure 1), latches the bracket 306 to the movable armature.

When the coil 300 is energized, the movable member 301 carrying the bracket 306 is moved against coil 300, as is hereinafter described. Thus, touching the remote closing button 500 is sufficient to move the mechanism described against the coil 300 to thereby close contacts 308502.

Thus, when coil 300 is energized, contacts 308502 are closed to energize closing solenoid coil 241, described above, causing the plunger extension 240 to move against the roller 193. The plunger extension 240 carries at its distal end, a cross-sectionally square core 320 which moves with delatching member 322. As the plunger completes the closing of the circuit breaker by means of pushing roller 193 onto arm 213, as described above, the member 322' engages the head 323 of ascrew 324. The screw 324 is carried by a link 325 which is pivoted on a floating pin 304 of the movable member 301.

The link 325 normally rests against a pin 326 carried at one end of a member 327. The member 327 is pivoted at its other end on a floating pin 328 which also pivots the end of the extension 305, described above. Pin 328 carries spring 513 which is tensed to pin 530 and serves to bias contact member 305 from its energized position to its neutral position (Figure 1).

The control relay, as described above, maintains the relay contact 308 in a substantially latched position with the armature 301 under normal conditions. Upon energization of the coil 300, the armature 301 moves to its closed position carrying the contact308 with it. The engagement of the movable relay contact 308 with the stationary relay contacts 502 establishes the circuit of the closing solenoid 241.

Referring again to the circuit diagram shown in Figure 2, the closing of the remote switch 500 energizes the relay coil 300 through regulator-504 from the power lines 517-518 which are being protected by the contact 6061 of the circuit breaker.

Upon energization of the relay coil 300, its armature 301 and bracket 306, latched together at 324-326, will be moved to the energized position. Hence, the cooperating contacts 303502 will be moved into engagement thereby completing the energizing circuit for the closing coil241.

Upon energization of the closing coil 241, the closing armature 240 will be moved upwardly to thereby move the mechanism of the circuit breaker to the closed position.

Figure 2 illustrates the position of the circuit breaker upon trip free operation thereof following attempted closing by the plunger 240. The upward movement of the plunger 240 will carry its extension 320322 upwardly thereby engaging the head 323 of the screw 324, as seen in Figure 2, to thereby unlatch the bracket 306 from the armature 301.

When the bracket 306 is unlatched from the armature 301, it will come under the influence of its biasing spring 513 to thereby return this component to its neutral position of Figure 1. However, since there is no biasing means provided for the armature 301, it will remain in its energized position even if the relay coil 300 is not energized. That is, the armature 301 will remain in a position to which it is moved until auxiliary means, hereinafter more fully described, return it to its neutral position. That is, the closing solenoid plunger 240 will open the latch engagement 324326 between the relay armature 301 and the relay contacts 308 and 502 when the closing solenoid plunger 240 nears its completion of the closing stroke (shown solid in Figure 2). This allows the closing solenoid 241 electrical circuit to be interrupted when the circuit breaker 30 is securely latched in the closed position.

By not biasing the armature 301 to neutral position, it will remain in its energized position (Figure 2) even though the relay operating coil 300 is de-energized as a result of a drop in line voltage or release of closing switch 500. Hence, armature 301 will remain in this energized position while the relay contacts 308-502 remain in the open position. The relay armature 301 and the relay contacts 308502 cannot relatch until the relay armature 301 is returned to its neutral position of Figure 1, as will hereinafter be described. This operating characteristic makes the relay trip free. Continuous pumping of the circuit breaker closing mechanism is thus prevented, even though the closing maintained closed under conditions when a fault remains on the cir-cuit'or where defective closing mechanism causes defective latching.

The portion of the latch 323-326 of the closing relay and its associated auxiliary contact member 306 is best seen in Figures 1 and 2. The closing relay, as heretofore noted, is constructed in such a manner that the unit 306 carrying the contacts 303 for the closing solenoid coil 241 is latched to the relay armature 301 when the armature is in the neutral or open position of Figure l.

Latch engagement between these two units is achieved by the engagement of the end 324 of the screw 323 with the .pin 326. The pin 326 is carried by the auxiliary member 327 which is provided with a second pin 530 which is slidably mounted in the elongated slots 501 thereof.

Spring 513 is secured to the pin 530 of the auxiliary unit 327 and connected to the pin 328 which is rotatably mounted on the extension legs 504 of the unit 306 which carries the auxiliary contacts 308 for the closing solenoid 241. By means of the spring 513, the auxiliary unit 327 latches the armature 301 to the auxiliary contact member 306 when the screw 323 is in engagement with the pin 326. This is achieved by having the latch member 325, which switch 500 is carries the adjustment latching screw 323 pivotally mounted on the pin 304 of the armature 301.

Thus, when the circuit breaker is in the open position of Figure l, the auxiliary contact member 306 will be latched to the armature 301. Consequently, when the relay coil 300 is energized, thereby attracting the armature 301 forward, the contact carrying member 306 will also move forward to the energized position due to the latch engagement 324326 between these two members achieved by the engagement of the screw 324 with the pin 326. Upon forward movement of the member 306, due to this latch engagement, the movable contacts 308 will engage the stationary contacts 502.

Upon engagement of the movable contacts 308 with the stationary contacts 502, the closing solenoid 241 will be energized thereby moving the closing plunger 240 upwardly to thereby engage the roller 193 to move the circuit breaker linkage towards the closed position. The lower end of the plunger 240 is provided with an extension member 322 which moves in the path of the screw 323.

Near. the latter end of the upward stroke of the plunger 240, its extension 322 will engage the outer end of the screw 323 thereby moving it upwardly, as seen in the solid view of Figure 2. This action will thereby move the screw 323 with respect to the pin 326 thereby unlatching the engagement between the auxiliary contact member 306 and the armature 301. Consequently, even though the relay coil 300 continues to remain energized, thereby attracting the armature 301 to the closed or engaged position, the auxiliary contact member 304 will fall back to its neutral position due to the bias of spring 513 to thereby open the cooperating contacts 308502. That is, even though the operator continues to energize the closing relay through control switch 500, the closing solenoid 241 will not be energized due to the unlatching of the auxiliary contact unit 306 from the relay armature 301.

With the de-energization of the closing solenoid 241 due to the disengaging of the cooperating contacts 308-502, the closing plunger 240 will be moved downwardly by the force of gravity. Since the screw 324 and the member 325 on which it is mounted has been rotated counterclockwise and held upwardly by the extension 322 of the plunger 240, these members will also be moved downwardly when the plunger 240 is moved downwardly by the force of gravity. Hence, at a predetermined position within the downward movement of the plunger 240, the extension 324 of the screw 323 will be brought down to rest on top of the pin 326. That is, since the armature 301 is still maintained in energized position with or Without the energization of relay coil 300, there will be no latch engagement between the auxiliary contact member 306 and the relay armature 301 even though the extension 322 of the closing plunger 340 is not in engagement with the pin 323.

However, as soon as the relay armature 301 remotely resets to its neutral position, as will hereinafter be described, the repositioning of the shaft 304 which carries the member 325 to which the screw 323 is attached will "allow the spring 513 to move the extension member 327 so that the end 324 of the screw 323 will again engage the pin 326. Hence the auxiliary contact member 306 will again be latched to the relay armature 301. Accordingly, on re-energization of the relay coil 300, both the armature 301 and the auxiliary contact member 306 will move together to the energized position 'due to the latch engagement 323 '326.

The resetting mechanism illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 7 consists of a resetting magnet and coil 550 which may be energized through a regulator 551 from either the main lines 517-518 or from an auxiliary source of energy. The normally open contact button 552 controls the energizing circuit for the reset coil 553. Upon the energization of the reset coil 553 following the movement of the 9 reset button 552 to its closed position, the reset armature 554 will be movedito its engaged position thereby, rocking the bell-crank 555 around its stationary pivot 556. The rotation of the bell crank 555 will thereby move the link mechanism 557 toward the right.

The extreme lefthand end of the. link 557 is secured to the pin 304 of the movable armature 301. Thus, the resetting mechanism 550 will be instrumental in moving the armature 301 from its energized position of Figure 2 back to its neutral position of Figure 1. That is, following an attempted automatic closing operation of the circuit breaker, whether it trips free or not, a subsequent attempted closing operation through the button 500 will haveitobe preceded by a reset operation through the closing ofthe button 552. That is, since the relay armature 301 does not have a biasing spring, it will remain in the position to which it is moved, namely the energized position shown in Figure 2, until the operator resets this unit through the reset magnet and coil 550.

As above described, movement of the armature 301 to its neutral position will result in relatching by means of screw 324 and bar 326 of the armature 301 and the bracket 306.

As heretofore noted in the introduction of the instant application, the prior art arrangement results in very undesirable operation when the closing means is energized from the line being protected by the circuit breaker. Since the closing of the contacts on a low impedance fault will result in a drop in voltage, a biased armature of the control relay would automatically be moved to its neutral position to thereby relatch with the bracket 306. Hence, if the operator continued to maintain the closing button 500 in the engaged position, a pumping operation would result.

However, with my instant invention, there can be no subsequent unintentional closing operation since it is necessary to perform a resetting operation by means of the reset button 552 before a subsequent closing operation can be performed. That is, it will be necessary for the operator to energize the reset magnet and coil 550 to move the armature 301 to its neutral latched position before subsequent closing operation can be performed.

In the foregoing, I have described my invention only in connection with preferred embodiments thereof. Many variations and modifications of the principles of my invention within the scope of the description herein are obvious. Accordingly, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosure herein but only by the appending claims.

I claim:

1. A circuit breaker closing means capable of being energized from the line being protected by said circuit breaker being comprised of a control relay, closing means, and reset means; energization of said control relay effective to complete an energizing circuit for said closing means; energization of said closing means effective to interrupt said energizing circuit; means to render said energizing circuit for said closing means ineffective until said reset means is operated; and said reset means being comprised of a coil and armature; said armature linked to said control relay; energization of said reset coil effective to render said control relay operative to complete the energizing circuit for said closing coil when said control relay is subsequently energized.

2. Closing means for a circuit breaker comprising a control relay, closing means, and reset means; said control relay capable of being energized from the circuit being protected by said circuit breaker; said control relay effective to complete an energizing circuit for said closing means when said control relay is initially energized; initial energization of said closing means effective to in terrupt said energizing circuit therefor; means to render the subsequent energization of said control relay ineffective to reclose said energizing circuit for said closing coil until said reset means is operated.

10 ,3. Closing means-for a circuit breaker comprising a control relay, closing means, and reset means; said control relay capable of being energized from the circuit being protected by said circuit breaker; said control relay effective to complete an energizing circuit for said closing means when said control relay is initially energized; initial energization of said closing means effective to interrupt said energizing circuit therefor; means to render the subsequent energization of said control relay ineffective to reclose said energizing circuit for said closing coil until said reset means is operated; said reset means'being comprised of a coil and armature; said armature linked to said control relay; energization of said reset coil effective to render said control relay operative to complete the energizing circuit for said closing coil when said control relay is subsequently energized.

4. Closing means for a circuit breaker comprising a control relay, closing means, and reset means; said control relay capable of being energized from the circuit being protected by said circuit breaker; said control relay effective to complete an energizing circuit for said closing means when said control relay is initialy energized; initial energization of said closing means effective to interrupt said energizing circuit therefor; means to render the subsequent energization of said control relay ineffective to reclose said energizing circuit for said closing coil until said reset means is operated; said reset means effective to reposition the components of said control relay to their original position prior to initial energization thereof.

5. In an automatic closing system for a circuit breaker comprised of a control relay, closing means and a reset means; said control relay being comprised of an armature and a contact controlling bracket and a coil; latch means to latch said bracket to said armature when said coil is initially de-energized; said closing means being comprised of a closing coil, a closing plunger and a latch controlling element; energization of said control relay coil causing said latch bracket and armature to be moved to the energized position; movement of said bracket to the engaged position effecting energization of said closing coil; energization of said cloisng coil resulting in the unlatching of said bracket from said armature; biasing means to move said bracket from said energized position to said neutral position when said bracket is unlatched from said armature; means to maintain said armature in said energized position when the energizing voltage for said control relay coil is removed; said reset means effective to move said control relay armature from said energized position to said neutral position to effect relatching between said bracket and said armature.

6. In an automatic closing system for a circuit breaker comprised of a control relay, closing means and a reset means; said control relay being comprised of an aramture and a contact controlling bracket and a coil; latch means to latch said bracket to said armature when said coil is initially de-energized; said closing means being comprised of a closing coil, a closing plunger and a latch controlling element; energization of said control relay coil causing said latch bracket and armature to be moved to the energized position; movement of said bracket to the engaged position effecting energization of said closing coil; energization of said closing coil resulting in the unlatching of said bracket from said armature; biasing means to move said bracket from said energized position to said neutral position when said bracket is unlatched from said armature; said armature remaining in said energized position when the energizing voltage for said control relay coil is removed; subsequent energization of said control, relay coil ineffective to energize said closing coil until said control relay armature is moved to neutral position by said reset means.

7. In an automatic closing system for a circuit breaker comprised of a control relay, closing means and a reset means; said control relay being comprised of an armature and a contact controlling bracket and a coil; latch means to latch said bracket to said armature when said coil is initially de-energized; said closing means being comprised of a closing coil, 21 closing plunger and a latch controlling element; energization of said control relay coil causing said latch bracket and armature to be moved to the energized position; movement of said bracket to the engaged position effecting energization of said closing coil; energization of said closing coil resulting in the unlatching of said bracket from said armature; biasing means to move said bracket from said energized position to said neutral position when said bracket is unlatched from said armature; said armature remaning in said energized position when the energizing voltage for said control relay coil is 12 removed; said reset means being comprised of a reset coil and armature and a link mechanism; said link mechanism attached to said control relay armature and to said reset armature; energization of said reset coil effective to move said control relay armature to neutral position through said reset armature and said link mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,478 Thumim et al Sept. 28, 1937 2,349,647 Boisseau et al May 23, 1944 2,550,496 Reifschneider Apr. 24, 1951 2,748,221 Edwards May 29, 1956

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