US3155803A - Electric circuit breaker with toggle positioning means - Google Patents

Electric circuit breaker with toggle positioning means Download PDF

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Publication number
US3155803A
US3155803A US212432A US21243262A US3155803A US 3155803 A US3155803 A US 3155803A US 212432 A US212432 A US 212432A US 21243262 A US21243262 A US 21243262A US 3155803 A US3155803 A US 3155803A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
toggle links
contact arm
toggle
circuit breaker
casing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US212432A
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English (en)
Inventor
Keith W Klein
David B Powell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to NL295696D priority Critical patent/NL295696A/xx
Priority to BE635351D priority patent/BE635351A/xx
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US212432A priority patent/US3155803A/en
Priority to GB25968/63A priority patent/GB980010A/en
Priority to DE19631463194 priority patent/DE1463194B2/de
Priority to DK352463AA priority patent/DK106509C/da
Priority to FR942664A priority patent/FR1364469A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3155803A publication Critical patent/US3155803A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H01H71/504—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release provided with anti-rebound means

Definitions

  • Our invention relates to electric circuit breakers, and more particularly to electric circuit breakers of the type having a movable contact arm and operating mechanism for moving said contact arm between open and closed circuit positions including a releasable cradle member and a pair of toggle links interconnecting the cradle member and the movable contact arm.
  • the movable contact arm moves to open position with such force that it sometimes rebounds toward closed circuit position, prolonging the arcing process if the arc has not been extinguished, or permitting the arc to re-strike if it has been extinguished.
  • the operating spring which, for example, in the oil" position strongly resists such rebound action, is relaxed when the parts move to the tripped position, because of the release of the releasable member. Accordingly, it ordinarily does not act to prevent such rebound.
  • an electric circuit breaker including a pivotally supported contact arm and a releasable cradle member, releasably held by current responsive means.
  • a pair of toggle links is provided interconnecting the pivotally supported contact arm and the releasable cradle member.
  • Manually operable handle means is also provided, interconnected by a tension spring to the knee of the toggle linkage, whereby reciprocal movement of the operating handle causes alternate straightening and collapsing action of the toggle linkage and corresponding opening and closing movement of the movable contact arm.
  • the operating mechanism furthermore includes a relatively stationary stop member and projections on the upper toggle links engageable with the stop member to accelerate and to accentuate the collapsing act-ion of the toggle linkage, and also to inhibit the rebounding action of the movable contact arms toward closed position following automatic opening operation.
  • FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of an electric circuit breaker incorporating the present invention, a portion of the insulating casing thereof being broken away;
  • FIGURE 2 is a combination side elevation view and sectional view of the circuit breaker of FIGURE 1, the sectional portion of the view being taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker of FIGURES 1 and 2, the parts being shown in the automatically opened or tripped position;
  • FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, the parts being shown in the manual 0 position;
  • FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view on enlarged scale of a portion of the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker of FIGURE 1, and
  • FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a portion of the operating mechanism, the parts being shown in the automatically tnipped position similar to FIG- URE 3.
  • the invention is shown as incorporated in an electric circuit breaker including an insulating casing comprising a base it ⁇ and a cover 11.
  • Three line terminals 12 are supported on the insulating base it ⁇ at one end thereof, and three load terminals 13 are supported on the opposite end of the insulating base, substantially in alignment with the corresponding line terminals.
  • Operation of the circuit breaker is adapted to control electrical continuity between the corresponding line and load terminals 12, 13, the portion of the circuit breaker between each corresponding pair of line and load terminals being known as a pole.
  • the circuit breaker as shown in FIGURE 1 is a three-pole circuit breaker. It will be understood, however that the present invention is equally applicable to circuit breakers having a number of poles other than three, such for instance as one and two-pole circuit breakers.
  • Each of the line terminals 12 is connected to and supported by a conductive insert 14 carried by the base it
  • the terminal 12 is connected to the insert 1e and also to a terminal strap 15 by means of a screw 16.
  • the terminal strap 15 extends inwardly within the circuit breaker proper and carries a relatively stationary contact 17 on the inner end thereof.
  • a relatively movable contact 18 is also provided, carried by a movable contact support member 19, which in turn is pivotally supported by the pivot pin 2% ⁇ on a movable contact arm 21.
  • the contact arm 21 is pivotally supported in the insulating casing by suitable pivotal supports, not shown, and is connected by a contact cross-arm 22 to corresponding contact arms of the other two poles of the circuit breaker.
  • a compression spring 21A is provided between the contact carrying member 19 and the contact arm 21, for the purpose of providing contact pressure in the on position.
  • the current-path through the central pole of the circuit breaker is shown.
  • the movable contact support member 18 is connected by a flexible connector 24 to an intermediate conductor 25, which is connected by means of screw 26 to a line terminal member 2'7 of a current responsive assembly or trip unit 2.3.
  • the terminm member 27 passes through the trip unit 28, energizing its current-responsive means, not shown, and having a projecting portion 29 serving as a load terminal.
  • the load terminal 29 serves to support the load terminal members 13 which are connected thereto by being bolted to a conductive insert 36 by means of a screw 31.
  • the movable contact arm 21 is adapted to be operated between open and closed circuit positions by means of an operating mechanism comprising a pair of side frames or plates 32, only one shown, see FIGURE 2.
  • the side plates 32 serve to support the operating mechanism parts, including a releasable latched member or cradle 33 pivotally supported on the side frames 32 by a pivot pin 34.
  • the cradle member 33 is biased in a clockwise direction as shown, by means to be described, and includes a latch portion 35 which is rcleasably held by a cooperating latch member 36.
  • the latch member 36 is adapted to be moved to release the cradle 33 upon the occurrence of predetermined current conditions through any one of the pole portions of the circuit breaker.
  • a toggle linkage assembly is also provided interconnecting the cradle member 33 and the contact arm 21 comprising a pair of upper toggle links 37 pivotally connected to the cradle 33 by a pivot pin 38, and a pair of lower toggle links 39 pivotally connected at one end to the contact arm 21 by the pivot pin 29.
  • the toggle links 37 and 39 are interconnected by a knee pivot pin 46-.
  • the upper toggle links 37 are interconnected by a bracing pin 37B, and the cradle member 33 is provided with an arcuately shaped aperture 33C, providing clearance for the pin 373.
  • the toggle links 37 and 39 are adapted to be operated between collapsed and straightened conditions, to move the contact arm 21 between open and closed circuit positions with respect to the stationary contact 17, by means of a manually operable handle member 42.
  • the handle member 42 is carried by the handle support member 43.
  • the handle support member 43 is generally U-shaped, see FIGURE 5, and is pivotally supported upon pivot pins 44 carried by the side frames 32.
  • the handle support member 43 is connected by means of a pair of tension type springs 45, to the knee pin 4% of the toggle linkage.
  • the knee pin 40 is provided with an enlarged-diameter central portion 40A.
  • the portion 40A lies in the central plane of the mechanism, i.e., in the same plane as the releasable member 33.
  • the portion 40A strikes an edge portion 33A (see FIG- URE 4) of the cradle 33, closely adjacent the pivot pin 34.
  • the upper toggle links 37 are each provided with an extension or enlarged portion 37A, and a stop pin 50 is provided, carried by the frame side plates 32.
  • the latch member 36 On the occurrence of predetermined current conditions through any of the poles of the circuit breaker, the latch member 36 is moved by the trip unit 28, thereby releasing the latch portion 35 of the cradle member 33.
  • the action of the tension springs on the knee pin 4-0 is such as exert, through the upper toggle links 37, a force on the cradle member 33, tending to rotate it in clockwise direction. Substantially at the beginning of this movement following release of the cradle 33, the portions 37A of the upper toggle links 37 engage the pin 59. As the cradle member 33 continues to rotate in clockwise direction, the interaction of the pin and the portions 37A of the upper toggle links 37 forces the toggle linkage 37-39 to collapse by movement of the knee pin 40 to the left as viewed. This accelerates the opening movement of the movable contact arm 21 and its associated contact carrying member 1) and contact 18.
  • the knee pin 40 is cammcd to the left by the action of the pin 50 on the extension 37A, while the pivot pin 38 is moved to the right by the rotataing action of the cradle member 33.
  • the net effect of this is to cause the pin 38 to cross the line of action of the springs 45 so that when the cradle 33 moves to the fully tripped position, as shown in FIG- URE 3, the action of the springs 45 on the upper toggle links 37 is such as to tend to rotate them in a clockwise, i.e., collapsing, direction, rather than a counterclockwise, i.e., straightening, direction.
  • the interengagement of the pin 50 and the extensions 37A of the upper toggle links 37 serves as a substantial deterrent to any tendency of the movable contact arms 21 to rebound back toward closed position following tripping movement as previously described.
  • This aspect of the invention may be best understood by reference to FIGURE 6.
  • the parts are shown in the position which they occupy following an automatic opening operation. It will be observed that the pin 50 serves as a stop to limit movement of the contact arms 21 in opening direction.
  • the contact arms 21 are moved to automatically tripped condition at an extremely high rate of speed.
  • the contact arms 21 Upon striking the stop pin 59, there is a tendency of the contact arms 21 to rebound toward closed circuit position. If such rebound movement should occur, even to the extent of permitting partial movement of the movable contact toward closed position, it would create the danger of a restrike of the arc, with serious adverse effects.
  • FIGURE 6 the force tending to cause rebound or reclosing movement of the contact arm 21 is indicated by the arrow F. It will be observed that movement of the contact arm 21 toward closed position has the effect of tending to rotate the upper toggle links 37 counterclockwise about their pivotal connection 38 with the cradle member 33.
  • the pin 50 also serves the further function of providing a stop for the cradle 33 in its rotation in a clockwise direction when tripping occurs. Referring to FIGURE 4,
  • the portion 333 of the cradle 33 engages the pin 50, limiting clockwise rotation of the cradle 33.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising:
  • operating means in said casing for operating said contact arm between open and closed circuit positions comprising a mechanism frame fixedly mounted in said casing and a releasable cradle member pivotally mounted on said frame,
  • toggle links interconnecting said cradle member and said movable contact arm, said toggle links comprising a pair of upper toggle links and a pair of lower toggle links interconnected by a knee pin,
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising:
  • said operating means also comprising an interconnected toggle link assembly comprising a pair of upper toggle links connected at one end to said cradle member and a pair of lower toggle links at one end to said contact arm and a knee pin interconnecting said upper and lower pairs of toggle links,
  • said pair of upper toggle links including a portion engaging said stop member upon release of said releasable member and forcing said toggle linkage to assume a relatively collapsed position following release of said releasable member.
  • said upper toggle links including a portion disposed closely adjacent said stop member in said at rest position, whereby rebound movement of said movable contact arm toward said closed position causes said upper toggle links to engage said stop member and to resist said rebound movement of said contact arm.

Landscapes

  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
US212432A 1962-07-25 1962-07-25 Electric circuit breaker with toggle positioning means Expired - Lifetime US3155803A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL295696D NL295696A (es) 1962-07-25
BE635351D BE635351A (es) 1962-07-25
US212432A US3155803A (en) 1962-07-25 1962-07-25 Electric circuit breaker with toggle positioning means
GB25968/63A GB980010A (en) 1962-07-25 1963-07-01 Improvements in electric circuit breakers
DE19631463194 DE1463194B2 (de) 1962-07-25 1963-07-19 Selbstschalter mit einer Einrichtung zur Verhinderung des Zurückspringens des beweglichen Kontaktträgerarmes in seine Schließstellung nach einer Schalterauslösung
DK352463AA DK106509C (da) 1962-07-25 1963-07-24 Elektrisk afbryder.
FR942664A FR1364469A (fr) 1962-07-25 1963-07-25 Perfectionnements aux interrupteurs et disjoncteurs électriques

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US212432A US3155803A (en) 1962-07-25 1962-07-25 Electric circuit breaker with toggle positioning means

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3155803A true US3155803A (en) 1964-11-03

Family

ID=22790980

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US212432A Expired - Lifetime US3155803A (en) 1962-07-25 1962-07-25 Electric circuit breaker with toggle positioning means

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3155803A (es)
BE (1) BE635351A (es)
DE (1) DE1463194B2 (es)
DK (1) DK106509C (es)
FR (1) FR1364469A (es)
GB (1) GB980010A (es)
NL (1) NL295696A (es)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3591745A (en) * 1970-02-06 1971-07-06 Square D Co Manually operated toggle acting switch having a job function lever
US3621189A (en) * 1970-08-26 1971-11-16 Cutler Hammer Inc Inkage contact operating mechanism for electric circuit breaker
US4065653A (en) * 1977-04-25 1977-12-27 General Electric Company Circuit breaker mounted within an explosion-proof enclosure
US4400603A (en) * 1981-07-23 1983-08-23 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Electrical switch for alternating current
EP0146033A2 (en) * 1983-12-19 1985-06-26 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Electric circuit breaker with improved operating mechanism
US4588878A (en) * 1984-11-16 1986-05-13 General Electric Company Molded case circuit breaker with reduced contact mounts
US4642430A (en) * 1985-07-18 1987-02-10 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Molded case circuit breaker with an improved contoured cradle
US4650944A (en) * 1985-07-18 1987-03-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Molded case circuit breaker with an improved operating mechanism having a pivot-transfer trip-free linkage
US5008504A (en) * 1989-01-06 1991-04-16 Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. Switching mechanism in circuit breaker

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4723457A (en) * 1981-06-10 1988-02-09 Societe Anonyme Dite Socomec Sudden interlocking and teleunlocking mechanical assembly for a translation switch having automatic reinforced interlocker
FR2639759B1 (fr) * 1988-11-29 1991-01-18 Telemecanique Electrique Mecanisme de commande manuelle a rupture brusque pour interrupteur electrique
DE29604726U1 (de) * 1996-03-14 1996-05-23 Klöckner-Moeller GmbH, 53115 Bonn Stromzuführung für armförmige bewegliche Kontakte eines Niederspannungs-Schutzschalters
KR100996806B1 (ko) * 2008-09-08 2010-11-25 엘에스산전 주식회사 모터 보호용 차단기의 개폐기구

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2640127A (en) * 1949-12-24 1953-05-26 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker
US2942083A (en) * 1956-12-24 1960-06-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupters

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2640127A (en) * 1949-12-24 1953-05-26 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker
US2942083A (en) * 1956-12-24 1960-06-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupters

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3591745A (en) * 1970-02-06 1971-07-06 Square D Co Manually operated toggle acting switch having a job function lever
US3621189A (en) * 1970-08-26 1971-11-16 Cutler Hammer Inc Inkage contact operating mechanism for electric circuit breaker
US4065653A (en) * 1977-04-25 1977-12-27 General Electric Company Circuit breaker mounted within an explosion-proof enclosure
US4400603A (en) * 1981-07-23 1983-08-23 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Electrical switch for alternating current
EP0146033A2 (en) * 1983-12-19 1985-06-26 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Electric circuit breaker with improved operating mechanism
JPS60154429A (ja) * 1983-12-19 1985-08-14 イートン　コーポレイション 回路遮断器
EP0146033A3 (en) * 1983-12-19 1986-02-05 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Electric circuit breaker with improved operating mechanism
JP2623082B2 (ja) 1983-12-19 1997-06-25 イートン コーポレイション 回路遮断器
US4588878A (en) * 1984-11-16 1986-05-13 General Electric Company Molded case circuit breaker with reduced contact mounts
US4642430A (en) * 1985-07-18 1987-02-10 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Molded case circuit breaker with an improved contoured cradle
US4650944A (en) * 1985-07-18 1987-03-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Molded case circuit breaker with an improved operating mechanism having a pivot-transfer trip-free linkage
US5008504A (en) * 1989-01-06 1991-04-16 Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. Switching mechanism in circuit breaker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL295696A (es)
DE1463194B2 (de) 1970-09-17
BE635351A (es)
DK106509C (da) 1967-02-13
GB980010A (en) 1965-01-13
DE1463194A1 (de) 1968-11-07
FR1364469A (fr) 1964-06-19

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