US3268688A - Pushbutton-controlled overload circuit breaker - Google Patents

Pushbutton-controlled overload circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
US3268688A
US3268688A US390376A US39037664A US3268688A US 3268688 A US3268688 A US 3268688A US 390376 A US390376 A US 390376A US 39037664 A US39037664 A US 39037664A US 3268688 A US3268688 A US 3268688A
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United States
Prior art keywords
circuit breaker
contact bridge
housing
pushbutton
control rod
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
US390376A
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English (en)
Inventor
Ellenberger Jakob
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.)
Ellenberger and Poensgen GmbH
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Ellenberger and Poensgen GmbH
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ellenberger and Poensgen GmbH filed Critical Ellenberger and Poensgen GmbH
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Publication of US3268688A publication Critical patent/US3268688A/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
    • H01H73/22—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release
    • H01H73/30—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide
    • H01H73/306—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide the push-button supporting pivotally a combined contact-latch lever
    • 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
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/46—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release having means for operating auxiliary contacts additional to the main contacts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a pushbutton-controlled overload circuit breaker which is provided with thermally responsive as well as trip-free releasing means and with a contact bridge which is pivotable and slidable on a control rod which is rigidly connected to the push button.
  • this contact bridge When the circuit breaker is being switched off this contact bridge is pressed against an inclined surface and when the circuit breaker is being switched on, the contact bridge is taken along by the control rod by the engagement of a detent or projecting end on the contact bridge with a catch or shoulder on the control rod until one end of the contact bridge engages behind a holding detent on the thermally responsive releasing means.
  • the pushbutton may therefore be employed for switching on as well as for switching off the circuit breaker according to the invention. Consequently, there is no need for a separate manual releasing element, and the size of the circuit breaker will therefore be reduced by the space which is usually required by such an additional releasing element.
  • the opposite end of the lever is connected to a leaf spring so that the adjacent fiat surfaces of the lever and leaf spring normally lie flat on each other.
  • the parallel outer edges of this leaf spring project laterally over those of the lever and are slidable in longitudinal grooves in the two opposite housing parts.
  • the lever and the leaf spring are provided with corresponding apertures by means of which they are loosely fitted over a lateral projection on the free end of the control rod. The purpose of employing a leaf spring as a return spring for the lever is to save in space.
  • the lever and the leaf spring may be produced in a simple manner by stamping operations in which a pair of small studs are also pressed out of the material of the lever which engage into corresponding apertures in the leaf spring and are riveted thereto.
  • the lever and the leaf spring therefore form a single structural unit which during the assembly of the circuit breaker are simply fitted with their corresponding apertures over the lateral projection on the free end of the control rod.
  • the central parts of the free ends of the lever and leaf spring are punched out so as to form a pair of arms on each of them.
  • the ends of the two arms of the lever are bent at an inclined angle away from the leaf spring and form the inclined part previously referred to.
  • these inclined arms of the lever engage upon an edge of the contact bridge which then forms the mentioned abutment for the inclined part of the lever so that there is no need to provide any additional abutment.
  • the end of the contact bridge which is most remote from the pushbutton is bent over at an angle so as to project and form an abutment which, in the off position of the circuit breaker, engages with a shoulder on the control rod so that, when the pushbutton with the control rod thereon is then depressed, this shoulder on the control rod acts upon the bent end of the contact bridge and takes the latter along until it engages behind the holding detent on the bimetal strip.
  • this housing has an an inner recess into which a separate insert is fitted which is provided with an aperture through which the contol rod extends and with an inclined surface on which the contact bridge abuts when it is in the off position.
  • This insert also serves as a bearing for guiding the control rod during its longitudinal movements.
  • An additional feature of the invention consists in providing on one-or both sides of the contact bridge a slide bar which preferably consists of insulating material and serves for the operation of signal contacts.
  • a slide bar which preferably consists of insulating material and serves for the operation of signal contacts.
  • both of these slide bars may either be employed for operating opening or closing contacts, it is of particular advantage to design one of these slide bars for the operation of opening contacts and the other for the operating of closing contacts.
  • These slide bars may be guided in grooves in the side walls of the housing of the circuit breaker. In this manner the signal contacts will not be affected by jarring or vibrations since they are always held in their particular position without spring action.
  • the contact bridge may be provided with lateral studlike projections on which the slide bars are mounted with considerable play in the direction of movement of the control rod. This large play has the advantage that, when the circuit breaker is either switched on or off, the contact bridge may move for a certain distance without moving the slide bars. The kinetic energy of the contact bridge whichthen occurs produces a snap actuation of the signal contacts. From the fact that the slide bars are located directly on the contact bridge the advantage results that a perfect trip-free release is attained not only of the main contacts but also of the signal contacts of the circuit breaker.
  • the insert with the inclined surface is provided with side walls which extend in the direction of the control rod and cover the slide bars within the area in which they are mounted and secure them in their positions on the studs of the contact bridge. This also considerably facilitates the assembly of the circuit breaker.
  • the pushbutton together with the control rod and the cont-act bridge together with the slide bars are first assembled so as to form a single structural unit which may subsequently be easily inserted into the housing during the final assembly of the circuit breaker.
  • the side walls of the insert then hold the slide bars in their proper position on the contact bridge.
  • the terminal strips carrying the signal contacts may be secured in a simple manner by being inserted into suitable recesses in the two housing parts. They are then covered up by insulating plates so as to be insulated relative to the main circuit. For securing these insulating plates in their proper positions, an intermediate insulating member is placed between them which, in turn, is secured to the housing by a rivet which secures the two housing parts to each other.
  • Another feature of the invention consists in the fact that the spring which acts upon the contact bridge and serves for the trip-free release of the circuit breaker is supported on a fixed abutment which has an aperture through which the control rod extends and forms a separate element which is inserted into suitable recesses in the walls of the housing.
  • This fixed abutment or insert insures that the cont-act bridge will be switched at a uniform speed to the off position when operated by hand or when a short circuit occurs.
  • the upper end of the control rod is provided on opposite sides with recesses and this upper end is then inserted from one side into a corresponding recess in the lower end of the pushbutton.
  • this sleeve which locks the pushbutton to the end of the control rod is provided with an inner annular recess into which the release spring is inserted, the other end of which is supported on the mentioned insert. This insert therefore saves a separate abutment for supporting the release spring.
  • the pushbutton and the locking sleeve are preferably made of different colors for the following purpose.
  • the circuit breaker according to the invention When the circuit breaker according to the invention is switched on, only the pushbutton of one particular color projects from the housing. If, however, the circuit breaker is in its off position, not only the pushbutton but also the differently colored locking sleeve is visible above the housing.
  • the two different switch positions of the circuit breaker can therefore be easily recognized by the single color of the pushbutton or the two colors of the pushbutton and the locking sleeve.
  • one end of the bimetal strip is secured, preferably by welding, to one arm of an angular metal strip which is inserted into corresponding recesses in the two parts of the housing and the other arm of which is provided with a setscrew which engages upon the bimetal strip.
  • a further feature of the invention consists in the provision of very simple and effective means for mounting the circuit breaker in a fixed position on a control panel or the like.
  • These means consist according to the invention of a small plate which is inserted between the two housing parts at the end thereof adjacent to the pushbutton and is further secured by a rivet which connects the two housing par-ts to each other.
  • This small plate has a stud projecting from the housing at a certain distance from the threaded bushing on the end of the housing.
  • this stud When this threaded bushing is inserted into a bore in the control panel from the rear side thereof, this stud is also inserted into a corresponding recess or aperture in the panel adjacent to the mounting bore and it prevents the circuit breaker from turning when a lock nut is screwed upon the bushing and tightened against the front side of the panel.
  • FIGURE 1 shows an elevation of an overload circuit breaker according to the invention substantially in its natural size
  • FIGURE 2 shows a view of the circuit breaker as seen from the left of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 shows a top view of FIGURE 1
  • FIGURE 4 shows an enlarged elevation view, partly in section, of the circuit breaker in the same position as shown in FIGURE 1 but without the upper part of the housing;
  • FIGURE 5 shows a view of the inside of the housing
  • FIGURE 6 shows a similar view of the other half of the housing which is omitted in FIGURE 4;
  • FIGURE 7 shows the circuit breaker according to FIG- URE 4 in the OE position
  • FIGURE 8 shows the bimetallic strip with the fineadjustment device according to FIGURE 4;
  • FIG. 9 shows the upper part of the bimetallic strip, as seen in the direction of the arrow IX in FIG- URE 8;
  • FIGURE 10 shows the upper part of the bimetallic strip, as seen in the direction of the arrow X in FIG- UR-E 8;
  • FIGURE 11 shows a view of the lever and leaf spring unit as seen from the right of FIGURE 4;
  • FIGURE 12 shows a view of this unit, as seen from the left of FIGURE 11; while FIGURE 13 shows a view of the same unit as seen from the left of FIGURE 12.
  • the overload circuit breaker comprises a housing which consists of two halves 1 and 2 which are molded of plastic and are connected to each other by tubular rivets 3.
  • a pushbutton 4 projects from the upper end of the housing '1, 2, and is provided with a recess 5 in its lower end, as shown in FIGURE 4, into which the similarly shaped upper end of a control rod 6 is inserted in a direction at right angles to the central axis of the pushbutton 4.
  • the lower end of the pushbott-on 4 is enclosed by a sleeve 7 which locks the upper end of the control rod 6 to the pushbutton 4.
  • the lower part of sleeve 7 is provided with an inner annular recess 8 into which a release spring 9 is inserted, the lower end of which is supported on an insert 10 of insulating material.
  • the pushbutton 4 and the locking sleeve 7 are differently colored-the pushbutton may, for example, be black and the sleeve white-for indicating whether the circuit breaker is in the on or off position.
  • the black button projects from the housing, while when the circuit breaker is switched off, the white sleeve 7 also projects from the housing.
  • the two housing parts 1 and 2 further enclose the lower part of a threaded bushing .11 which has a square flange 12 on its lower end which is inserted into corresponding recesses 12 in the two housing parts 1 and 2 and is thus nonrotatably secured therein.
  • the control rod 6 has a rectangular cross section and consists of solid insulating material.
  • the upper wall of the insert 10 is provided with an aperture into which the control rod is inserted.
  • the control rod 6 is provided with a lateral projection 13' which extends through corresponding openings in a lever 14 and a leaf spring 15 which are riveted together at their lower ends, as shown particularly in FIGURES 11 to 13.
  • Lever 14 is for this purpose provided with a pair of studs 16 which are punched out of the material of the lever and extend through corresponding apertures 15 in the leaf spring 15 and are riveted to the latter.
  • leaf spring 15 is guided in grooves 19 in both housing parts 1 and 2 so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction.
  • the upper parts of lever 14 and leaf spring 15 are bifurcated by the provision of central recesses.
  • the two arms 20 of lever 14 which are thus formed are bent at their upper ends at 21 at an oblique angle away from the leaf spring 15. These bent ends 21 engage upon the edges 22 of the right end portions of a contact bridge 23 which is pivotably and slidably mounted on the control rod 6.
  • the contract bridge 23 is shown in its connecting or on position, whilein FIGURE 7 it is shown in its disconnecting or ofi position.
  • the right end of the angular contact bridge 23, which is produced by a stamping operation is held in engagement with a holding detent 24 on a bimetal strip 25.
  • This bimetal strip 25 is welded together with one arm 26 of an angular metal strip 27 which is inserted into suitable slots in the two housing parts 1 and 2 and thus held in a fixed position.
  • the other arm 28 of strip 27 carries a setscrew 29 which engages upon the bimetal strip 25.
  • the bimetal strip '25 carries a heating coil 30 which is insulated therefrom and connected at one end to a terminal strip 31 which is provided with a connecting screw 32.
  • the upper end of the bimetal strip 25 has an aperture 33 into which a small copper plate is inserted which forms the holding detent 24.
  • this copper plate has a bore into which the upper end 30" of the heating coil 30 is inserted and riveted.
  • the copper plate 24 has lateral shoulders which support it on the bimetal strip.
  • a small bracket 34 is stamped out of the bimetal strip 25 and bent so as to abut with its lower edge 35 against the upper side of the copper plate 24, as shown particularly in FIGURE 8.
  • the vertical arm 23' of contact bridge 23 cooperates with a fixed contact 36 on a terminal strip 37 which is likewise provide with a connecting screw 32.
  • the main circuit therefore extends from the terminal strip 31 via the heating coil 30, the contact bridge 23, and the contact 36 to the. terminal strip 37.
  • the contact bridge 23 is acted upon by a spring 38 which serves for the trip-free release of the circuit breaker and the lower end of which is supported on a stationary abutment 39 which is inserted into suitable slots 39' in the two housing parts 1 and 2.
  • the angular part of contact bridge 23 is provided with a reinforcing corrugation 55 which is produced by stamping.
  • Contact bridge 23 is provided on both sides with small studlike projections 40 which serve as means for connecting the contact bridge to a pair of slide bars 41 and 42. Both of these slide bars 41 and 42 are provided at their upper ends with square holes 43 into which the studlike projections 40 engage with considerable play which permits the slide bars to slide vertically on and relative to these projections 40. Slide bar 41 is adapted to act upon a contact spring 44 which cooperates with another contact 45, while the slide bar 42 is adapted to act upon a contact spring 46 which cooperates with another contact 47. These contacts 44 to 47 serve as signal contacts.
  • insulating plates 56 which are inserted into the two housing parts 1 and 2 and are held in a fixed position by a spacing member 57 of insulating material which is likewise inserted between the two housing parts 1 and 2.
  • the insulating plates 56 and the spacing member 57 are provided with bores 58 which are in alignment with each other and are adapted to receive a tubular rivet 3 for securing the two housing parts 1 and 2 to each other after the various elements are installed therein.
  • the opposite sides of the spacing member 57 are provided with studlike projections which engage into apertures 59 in the insulating plates 56 and prevent the spacing member 57 from turning.
  • the ends of the signal contacts 44 to 47 which project from the housing may be connected to suitable signal circuits for indicating the particular switch position in which the circuit breaker is set at any time.
  • Slide bar 41 serves for opening the contacts 44 and 45, while slide bar 42 serves for closing the contacts 46 and 47 when the contact bridge 23 is moved to its on position as shown in FIGURE 4. Both contact springs 44 and 46 have the tendency to engage under initial tension against their associated contacts and 47.
  • the threaded bushing 11 For mounting the overload circuit breaker on a control I panel or the like the threaded bushing 11 is provided with a buckled washer 48 and a nut 49.
  • a small metal plate 50 is inserted between the two housing parts 1 and 2 and held in a fixed position therein by a tubular rivet 3 which passes through the housing parts and this metal plate.
  • This metal plate 50 has a studlike projection 51 which engages from the rear into a corresponding bore or recess in the control panel when the circuit breaker is secured thereto.
  • the bimetal strip 25 is heated by the heating oil 30 and bent so far in the clockwise direction from the position as shown in FIGURE 4 that its holding detent 24 disengages from the contact bridge 23 and allows the latter, under the action of the re lease spring 9 to be pressed against the inclined surface 52 of the insert 10, as illustrated in FIGURE 7.
  • the lower, inwardly projecting end 53 of contact bridge 23 then engages with a shouder 54 on the control rod 6 so that, when the circuit breaker is being switched on the control rod 6 takes along the contact bridge 23 until its right end has passed over and snapped behind the holding detent 24 on the bimetal strip 25.
  • the pushbutton 4 is pulled out of the housing 1, 2.
  • the inclined ends 21 of the lever 14 then slide along the edges 22 of contact bridge 23, whereby the lever 14 is pivoted in the clockwise direction from the position as shown in FIGURE 4 and is thereby pressed against the bimetal strip 25 which is then bent until its holding detent 24 is released from the end of the contact bridge 23 permitting the latter under the action of the release spring 9 to pivot to the off position, as shown in FIGURE 7, in which the contact bridge 23 engages upon the inclined surface 52 of the insert 10.
  • the connecting bars 41 and 42 are also moved abruptly so that the signal contacts 44 to 47 are likewise opened and closed instantaneously.
  • a pushbutton-controlled overload circuit breaker having thermally responsive releasing means with a holding detent thereon, and trip-free releasing means, a housing, a pushbutton guided in and projecting from said housing, a control rod rigidly connected to said pushbutton, a contact bridge pivotable and slidable on said control rod within said housing, an inclined surface in said housing, said contact bridge being pressed aganst said inclined surface when the circuit breaker is switched off, said contact bridge having a projection and said control rod having a shoulder associated with said projection, said contact bridge being taken along by said control rod when the circuit breaker is being switched on by the engagement of said projection with said shoulder until one end of said contact bridge engages behind and is arrested by said holding detent of said thermally responsive releasing means, a lever having an inclined part at one end and pivotably mounted at the other end on said control rod, and means forming an edge in said housing associated with said lever so that, when said pushbutton is pulled out of said housing, said inclined part of said lever slides along said edge, whereby said
  • An overload circuit breaker as defined in claim 1 further comprising a leaf spring superimposed upon said lever and connected thereto at the end thereof opposite to said inclined end, said leaf spring having parallel lateral edges projecting over said lever and slidably guided in longitudinal grooves in two opposite walls of said housing, said control rod having a lateral projections on the free end thereof, said lever and said leaf spring having corresponding apertures and loosely fitted by means of said aperture over said lateral projection on said control rod.
  • An overload circuit breaker as defined in claim 8 in which the inner sides of the side walls of said housing have grooves, said slide bars being guided in said grooves.
  • said thermally responsive releasing means comprise a bimetal strip, said holding detent being secured to said bimetal strip near one end thereof, an angular metal strip mounted in corresponding recesses in the opposite walls of said housing and having one arm rigidly secured to the other end of said bimetal strip and supporting said bimetal strip, and a setscrew screwed into the other arm of said angular strip and adapted to engage upon said bimetal strip for adjusting the same.

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  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Slide Switches (AREA)
  • Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)
US390376A 1963-10-26 1964-08-18 Pushbutton-controlled overload circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime US3268688A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEE0025774 1963-10-26

Publications (1)

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US3268688A true US3268688A (en) 1966-08-23

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ID=7071832

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US390376A Expired - Lifetime US3268688A (en) 1963-10-26 1964-08-18 Pushbutton-controlled overload circuit breaker

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US (1) US3268688A (xx)
AT (1) AT258392B (xx)
CH (1) CH424947A (xx)
DE (1) DE1463114B2 (xx)
GB (1) GB1046530A (xx)
SE (1) SE301667B (xx)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3424089A1 (de) * 1983-08-19 1985-03-07 Weber AG Fabrik elektrotechnischer Artikel und Apparate, Emmenbrücke Druckknopfbetaetigter ueberstromschalter
GB2158656A (en) * 1984-05-11 1985-11-13 Kun Shan Chen Thermally actuated contact breaker

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2816192A (en) * 1956-09-05 1957-12-10 Mechanical Products Inc Electric switch incorporating an automatic circuit breaker
US2895028A (en) * 1958-02-27 1959-07-14 Ellenberger Jakob Pushbutton-operated overload switch
US3031542A (en) * 1959-10-26 1962-04-24 Ellenberger & Poensgen Pushbutton operated overload switch

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2816192A (en) * 1956-09-05 1957-12-10 Mechanical Products Inc Electric switch incorporating an automatic circuit breaker
US2895028A (en) * 1958-02-27 1959-07-14 Ellenberger Jakob Pushbutton-operated overload switch
US2952757A (en) * 1958-02-27 1960-09-13 Ellenberger & Poensgen Pushbutton-operated overload switch
US3031542A (en) * 1959-10-26 1962-04-24 Ellenberger & Poensgen Pushbutton operated overload switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1463114A1 (de) 1969-05-22
SE301667B (xx) 1968-06-17
GB1046530A (en) 1966-10-26
CH424947A (de) 1966-11-30
DE1463114B2 (de) 1970-10-15
AT258392B (de) 1967-11-27

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