US3291938A - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Circuit breaker Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3291938A
US3291938A US433091A US43309165A US3291938A US 3291938 A US3291938 A US 3291938A US 433091 A US433091 A US 433091A US 43309165 A US43309165 A US 43309165A US 3291938 A US3291938 A US 3291938A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
engagement
assembly
contacts
movable
stationary
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
US433091A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Martin V Zubaty
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.)
AMSTAR TECHNICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY Inc A CORP OF DE
Aiken Industries Inc
Original Assignee
Mechanical Products Inc
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
Application filed by Mechanical Products Inc filed Critical Mechanical Products Inc
Priority to US433091A priority Critical patent/US3291938A/en
Priority to DE19651513371 priority patent/DE1513371A1/de
Priority to DEM53309U priority patent/DE1932287U/de
Priority to NL6515005A priority patent/NL6515005A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3291938A publication Critical patent/US3291938A/en
Assigned to AIKEN INDUSTRIES, INC. reassignment AIKEN INDUSTRIES, INC. MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/19/68 STATE OF INCORP. DELAWARE Assignors: MECHANICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
Assigned to AMSTAR TECHNICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC., A CORP. OF DE. reassignment AMSTAR TECHNICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC., A CORP. OF DE. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: NORLIN INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF DE.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/14—Electrothermal mechanisms
    • H01H71/16—Electrothermal mechanisms with bimetal element
    • 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

Definitions

  • Multi-pole, automatic, electric circuit breakers of the type with which the invention is concerned are often used to protect multi-phase branch circuits which are connected at one end thereof to a multi-phase power supply and at the other end to a multi-.phase load, for example, three phase motors and other like multi-phase devices.
  • the circuit breakers generally comprise a plurality of electrically isolated pairs of separable contacts, a releasable operating mechanism for eifecting simultaneous separation of the respective pairs of contacts and a trip device which is responsive to predetermined conditions in any one of the phases of the electrical circuit to effectuate the release of the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker and to open each of the phases of the branch circuit.
  • the trip device of such circuit breakers comprises a latch mechanism which is operatively connected to a current responsive member and is operable to effect the engaging and disengaging movement of the latch.
  • the latch In operation, the latch must be relatively strong mechanically in order to retain the operating mechanism in the closed condition and suicient contact pressure must be applied to insure the proper electrical contact of the circuit breaker contacts.
  • the mechanism must be readily releasable upon relatively slight movement of the latch proper and in response to -a slight variation in the condition of the current responsive member in any one of the plurality of phases.
  • the current responsive member must be sensitive to a relatively small increment of change in current above a preselected maximum and have a physical response characteristic which is capable of releasing the latch in the manner described above.
  • the latch mechanism has been connected through a llexible member to a contact carrying element wherein the flexible element is required to Hex in accordance with t-he amount of contact pressure which is to be applied.
  • the llexible element has been fatigued and often fractures in use, thereby causing the circuit breaker to fail.
  • t-he breaker may fail safe, it is necessary that the breaker be replaced thereby causing the circuit to be out of use, both for the time that the element is fractured and for the time that is required to replace the breaker.
  • certain other problems have arisen in the prior art breakers in the force system set up within the breaker in order to keep the proper contact pressure rice between the contacts and it is with these forces that the invention is directed in addition to the aforementioned areas.
  • multi-phased breakers of this type provide a reliable and fast acting breaker wherein each of the phases of the multi-phased circuit is effectively and rapidly broken without the dangerof one of the phases remaining in contact.
  • each .phase was independently sensed to provide an independent trip for the corresponding portion of the breaker, It is desirable that a single member sense the conditions of all three phases of the branch circuit conjunctively rather than have individual sensers for the individual circuits and introducing the problem of relating all of the conditions of the circuit to a single latch element.
  • the user is insured of positive overload protection for relatively loW current multi-phase circuits by utilizing a trip device for the contacts which is sensitive to a low fault in any one of the phases, a large fault in any one of the phases or any combination of the two.
  • the overload current is sensed and a signal condition produced by a heater element which is electrically connected in each of the branch circuits of the multi-phase system.
  • this signal condition is sensed by a bimetallic element which is connected to a trip lever assembly common to all of the phases of the branch circuit.
  • the latch mechanism has been constructed of a pair of resiliently biased members, one of which carries a movable contact element and the other of which is engageable with the trip lever mechanism, thus providing a ilexible connection between the two elements of the latch mechanism.
  • the circuit breaker unit of the instant invention is of the general type disclosed in Patent No. 3,145,281,
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-pole circuit breaker that operates substantially instantaneously upon a relatively small current overload.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved circuit breaker having improved overload sensing features.
  • FIGURE l is a top, partially broken away view of a multi-pole circuit breaker incorporating certain principles of the present invention and illustrating the heater and trip assemblies thereof;
  • FIG. 2 is an elevational side view of the multi-pole circuit breaker of FIGURE l taken along line 2-2 thereof and particularly illustrating the trip lever and latching assembly;
  • FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the circuit breaker assembly of FIG. 2 and taken along the line H3-3 thereof and particularly illustrating the heater assembly; and.
  • FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional view of the circuit breaker assembly of FIG. 2 taken along line 4-4 thereof.
  • a multi-pole, trip free electric circuit breaker 10 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and comprises an insulating housing 12 fabricated of ceramic or other like insulating material, portions of which are held together by screws 14, rivets 15 or other like fastener means.
  • the front is closed by means of a metal cover member 13 and a wafer like insulating means 16 suitably insulates the inner portions of the breaker from the cover 13 and suitably seals the juncture between certain portions of the circuit breaker housing 12 and the cover 13.
  • the housing generally comprises a plurality of interconnected sections 18, 20 and 22, which house the various portions of the circuit breaker associated with each of the phases of the multiphase circuit.
  • the sections are divided by suitable dividing means 24 which may take the form of integrally molded projections depending from the interior of the housing.
  • the projections 24 may also serve to fasten the upper portion of a yoke member 26 which is utilized to separate the three sections illustrated and also to sup port the elements within the circuit breaker assembly as will be hereinafter explained.
  • the lower portion of the U-shaped frame is rigidly fastened to the cover 13 of the circuit breaker housing 12 by means of rivets 28, and a Washer member 30.
  • the housing 12 may be held together by a suitable means such as rivets or screws passing through the two halves of the housing.
  • the upper portion of the housing 12 is provided with a plurality of pairs of terminals 30-32, 34-36, and 38-40 which are suitably fastened in position relative to the housing, by means of a plurality of pairs-of screws, 42, 44 and 46.
  • a plurality of insulating barriers 47, 49, 51 and 53 suitably insulate the pairs of conductors of each phase relative to each other and also provide additional rigidity to the structure.
  • the mounting screws 44 pass through a generally T- shaped section 48 and 50 of the terminals 34, 36, respectively, and the lower portion 50 provides a mounting surface for a fixed contact 52, which is adapted to mate with a movable contact 54.
  • the three pairs of terminals -30-32, 34-36 and 38-40 are adapted to be connected to opposite sides of an external 3-phase electrical circuit so that current normally flows from one terminal through the circuit breaker to the associated terminal. With the contacts of any one pole in the tripped or open position due to a current overload condition, an interruption of the current ilow through the circuit breaker 10 will be effected, as is seen in FIG. 2.
  • the movable Contact 54 is mounted on a rotatable latch assembly 58, the details of which will hereinafter be described.
  • connection through the circuit breaker is made by a pigtail conductor 60, one end of which is connected to the latch assembly 58 and the other end is connected to a heater assembly 62.
  • a pigtail conductor 60 one end of which is connected to the latch assembly 58 and the other end is connected to a heater assembly 62.
  • the current flows upwardly to the lower portion 48 of terminal assembly 34 and thus outwardly to the other conductor of the pair of conductors connected to the one phase illustrated.
  • the control of the latch assembly is effected through a heat sensitive trip lever mechanism 66 which engages a portion of the latch assembly 58 to hold it in position until such time as the current overload condition is sensed and the trip lever assembly releases the latch assembly thereby opening contacts 52, 54.
  • the manual reset operation of the latch assemblly is etfectuated through a manual plunger assembly 70, which is suitably connected thereto. Asbest seen in FIG. 2, the manual plunger assembly 70 extends externally of and is slidably supported in a threaded nipple 72 which is integrally formed with the metal cover member 13 mounted on the lower portion of the housing 12.
  • the plunger assembly 70 includes ⁇ a compression spring', 76 which 4is adapted to albut at one end thereof against a. shoulder 78 former integrally with a sleeve member 80A and the other end of -tfhe .spring is adapted t'o abut inwardly extending shoulder portion 82 formed on the lower por-- tion lo'f the housing member 12. In this way the plunger ass'emlbly is held in the outwardly lbiased position.
  • The; plunger assembly 4f-urther includes ⁇ a manually actuable plunger member 84 which may be integrally fonmed withl the sleeve or formed separately, as illustrated in FIG.. 2.
  • the plunger 4member 84 is connected to an outer' plunger .shaft 88 by means of a pin '90 passing through lboth the plunger member 84 and the outer shaft member 88. It is to be noted that the switch illustrated in FIG. 2 is in the reset position, that is, wherein the contacts 52, 54 are closed and the trip lever bar assembly 66 is in engagement with the latch assembly 58 to resiliently bias contacts 52, 54 together.
  • the plunger 'operator assembly 70 fur-ther comprises an ⁇ inne-r plunger, shaft 92 which is connected to the outer plunger shaft 88 by means of a lost motion connecti-on 94 which generally comprises 4a rivet 94 carried Iin an elongated slot 96, whereby the connection is made between -inner plunger shaft memlber 92 and the outer plunger shaft member 88.
  • the inward and outward movement of the plunger assembly 701 is guided both by the sliding engagement of the sleeve 80 within the nipple 72 and also by means of a pin 98 which lis rigidly fixed in the nipple assembly 72 and slidably engages an elongated slot y100 #formed in the outer plunger shaft member 88.
  • the outer plunger :shaft 88 is held in its retracted position by a toggle lever assembly 104 having a biasing arm 106 which tends to bias a toggle lever 108 in a direction toward the outer plunger shaft 88.
  • the toggle lever 108 is pivotally mounted on a frame member .110 by means of a pivot pin 112 and the connection between lever arm 106 and toggle lever 108 is made by pin 114.
  • the toggle lever member has a roller member ⁇ 118 formed at one end thereof which is adapted to engage a cutout portion 120 formed in outer plunger shaft 88. With the roller member 118 engaging slot 120, the plunger assembly is maintained in the retracted position against the bias of the compressed spring 76.
  • connection between lever arm 106 and toggle lever 108 is made rigid through a cutout portion ⁇ formed in one end of the lever arm 106 which engages pin 112, thus forming -a pivotal connection for the toggle lever assembly 104 about pin 112.
  • the biasing 'force which is utilized t-o maintain engagement between roller ⁇ 11-8 and cutout 120 is provided by spring member 122, as will be seen as t-he description proceeds.
  • the circuit breaker assembly contains only -a single plunger assembly 70 and toggle lever assembly ⁇ 104, thereby maintaining the circuit breaker in the set condition with a minimum of parts and allowing the resetting of the tripped mechanism with the motion of a single plunger, ⁇ as for example plunger 84.
  • a sin-gle trip lever mechanism 66 is provided with separate sensors for each phase for the trip action.
  • the latch assembly 58 which supports the mov-able contact 54, comprises 1a generally L-shaped contact support element 126 having the contact 54 .soldered or welded to an upper surface of one leg thereof. 'The other leg is provided with a flexible conductor element 128 soldered or welded thereto to conduct t-he current to another portion of the circuit breaker assembly, as will be hereinafter explained.
  • the one leg 127 is connectedto a pivotal pin element 132 which is supported in the .frame 26 by means of a hinge member 134 pivotally mounted on pin 132.
  • latch assembly 58 is illustrated in FIG. 2, there is a corresponding latch assembly 57 and 59 for each phase of the multi-phase circuit, respectively. This may best be seen from the view illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 wherein is illustrated the fact that a hinge member corresponding to hinge ⁇ member 134 is provided for each of the poles of the breaker .10.
  • the L-shaped'contact carrying member 126 is r-esiliently biased into the closed position by means of a compression spring 140, which is carried in an open, ⁇ generally upwardly extending tubular member 141 mounted on a contact biasing rod member 142 pivotally mounted on pin 132 by means of a generally U-shaped extension member ⁇ 144 connected thereto at the ends thereof and a pair of hinge extensions 145 integrally ⁇ formed with rod member 142 (see FIGURE l).
  • One end 146 of extension member 144 has provided thereon a shoulder member 148 which is adapted to engage a portion of the trip lever assembly 66, thereby main-taining a biasing force on spring element 140.
  • the trip lever bar assembly 66 engaging the upper surface of the shoulder member 148, the. other end of the latch assembly 58 will be urged upwardly with the spr-ing 140 into biasing engagement with the upper leg 127. In this way the contacts 52 and 54 will be held in intimate relationship with each other.
  • the rod member 142 is common to a plural- 6. ity of tubular members, one for each pole, and each having a spring member carried therein.
  • spring 140 tends to release the pressure on leg 127 thereby relieving the biasing pressure on the contact element 54.
  • spring element 122 resiliently urges roller member 118 ⁇ into cutout portion and the other end of spring member 122 is fastened to an extension of the rod member 142 thereby tend-ing'to urge the rod member 142 downwardly to provide a resilient biasing force on the shoulder portion 148 upwardly against trip lever assembly 66.
  • the yforce of spring 122 is relieved .from toggle lever assembly thereby allowing the wheel member 1,18 to disengage ⁇ from the cutout portion 120.
  • the plunger assembly 70 With the wheel member 1118 disengaged, the plunger assembly 70 will move outwardly of the housing 12 by means of spring 7.6, thereby urging the inner plunger shaft 88 downwardly along with latch assembly 58 and contact element 54. Thus the movable contact element 54 is separated from the fixed contact element 52. As the bias member 142 moves downwardly on being released, a lower face 147 thereof engages a tip 149 ⁇ formed on the lower leg of L- shaped member 126 thereby limiting the relatively movement between members 126 and 142. In this manner the spring is effectively oonned therebetween and the further downward movement of the latch assembly 58 is caused by a pair of spring members 176', 17 6 lconnected to an extension of rod member 142 at one end and trip lever assembly 66 at the other. The complete rotation of the assembly 58 is prohibited by the engagement of a portion of rod member 142 with the support member 26.
  • the action of the latch assembly 58 is control-led by means of the trip lever assembly 66, which is thermally responsive to the heat generated by current flowing through -a heater assembly 150.
  • the heater assembly generally comprises a heater unit 151, 152, 153 for each of the phases to be controlled, as best seen in FIG. 3, and has a pair of outside legs 154, 156 and a middle leg 158 which is connected to the other end of the exible conductor 60.
  • the exible conductor 60 is covered with a flexible nylon, or other type of insulating material, sleeve in order to prevent -a short circuit with any of the components of the circuit breaker.
  • a bimetallic element 162 of trip lever assembly 66 having a fixed end 164 and a freely movable end 166, is placed in close heat transfer relation with heater 150.
  • the freely movable end 166 tends to move away from the p-lunger assembly 70, thereby moving a trip lever bar 170, fastened thereto, away from shoulder member 148.
  • the bimetallic element 162 is fastened to the tri-p lever bar 170 at a central portion thereof by means of a rivet 172.
  • An inward bias for the trip lever assembly is provided by means of a pair of springs 176', 176 which are connected at one end thereof to a pivot pin 178 and at the other end thereof to the extension of the rod member 142, as described above.
  • the pivot pin 178 is rigidly fasten-ed to the trip lever bar by means of a bracket 180 which has been suitably attached the-reto as by rivet 172 and a second rivet 182.
  • the engagementl between the trip lever bar 170 and the shoulder portion 148 is provided ⁇ by means of a shoulder face element 186 which is attached to the trip lever bar by means of .a rivet 188.
  • the lmember 186 has been provided with a downwardly -facing surface 190, which is adapted to engage the upper surface of shoulder member 148, .as is seen from FIG. 2.
  • bimetallic element 162 extends to the right due to the heating provided through heater 150, the surface 190 will be drawn away from above the shoulder element 148, thereby releasing the latch assembly 58 and the action of disengagement las described above, will occur.
  • the heater assembly 150 is attached to the terminal member 48 at the top of the heater assembly by any suitable -means such as soldering or welding, and a Calibrating screw 194 has been provided in the wall of Ihousing mem-ber 12 to inwardly urge the lower portion of heater 150 toward the bimetallic element 162 -against the action of spring 160.
  • a control of the amount of heat required to activate bimetallic element 162 has been provided.
  • the invention relates to a multi-pole circuit breaker wherein a plurality of phases .are controlled by means of a pair of contacts ⁇ 52, 54.
  • a plurality of heater assemblies 150, 152 and 153 are provided to provide heat to a plurality of bimetallic elements 162, 162 and 162" for each of the three heaters, 150, 152 and 153 of each leg of t-he 3- phase system.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising a housing, a stationary contact within said housing, a movable conrtact engageable with saidl stationary contact, a releasable plunger assembly for eiecting movement of the movable contact into engagement with said stationary contact, a trip device having a set conditi-on for maintaining said contacts in engagement and a tripped condition for releasing :the engagement between the stationary and movable contacts in said tripped condition in response to a preselected condition in said breaker, and means operably connected to said plunger assembly for relating the motion of said assembly mechanism to said movable contact and engageable with said trip device for urging the engagement of said movable and stationary contacts during at least a -portion of said motion and relieving said movable contact from said enga-gement when said preselected conditions are sensed including support means supporting said movable contact in pivotal relation to said plunger assembly and biasing means including resilient means resiliently engageable with said support means for urging said movable contact into engagement
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising a housing, a stationary -contact within said housing, a movable contact engageable with said stationary contact, a releasable plunger assembly for eiecting movement of the movable contact into engagement with said stationary contact, a trip device having a set condition for maintaining said contacts in engagement anda tripped condition for releasing the engagement between the stationary and movable contacts in said tripped condition in response to a preselected condition in said breaker, and means operably connected to said plunger .assembly for relating the motion of said assembly mechanism to said movable contact and engageable with said trip device for urging the engagement of said movable and stationary contacts during at leasta portion of said motion and relieving said movable contacts from sai-d engagement when said preselected conditions are sensed including support means pivotally connected to said assembly for supporting said movable contact in pivotal .relation to said plunger assembly, biasing means resiliently-'engageable with said support means for urging said movable contact
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising a housing, -a stationary contact within said housing, a movable contact engageable with said stationary contact, a releasable plunger assembly for effecting movement of the movable contact into engagement with said stationary contact, a trip device having a set condition for maintaining said contacts in engagement and a tripped condition for releasing the engagement between the stationary and movable contacts in said tripped condition in response to a preselected condition in said breaker, and means operably connected to said plunger assembly for relating the motion of said assembly mechanism to said movable contacts and engageable with said trip device for urging the engagement of said movable and stationary contacts during at least a portion of said motion and relieving said movable contacts from said engagement when said preselected conditions are sensed including a generally L- shaped support means pivotally connected to said assembly .at the end of one leg thereof and supporting said movable contact on an upper surface thereof in pivotal relation to said plunger assembly, biasing means resiliently engageable with said support means for urging said mov
  • vAn electric circuit breaker comprising a housing, a stationary Contact within said housing, a movable contact engageable with said stationary contact, a releasable plunger assembly for eiecting movement of the movable contact into engagement with said stationary contact, a trip device having a set condition for maintaining said contacts in engagement and a tripped condition for releasing the engagement between the stationary and movable contacts in said tripped condition in response to a preselected condition in said breaker, and means operably connected to said plunger assembly for relating the motion of said assembly mechanism to said movable contacts and engageable with said trip device for urging the engagement of said movable and stationary contacts during at least a portion of said motion and relieving said movable contacts from said engagement when said preselected conditions are, sensed including a generally L- shaped support means pivotally connected to said assembly at the end of one leg thereof and supporting said movable contact on .an upper surface thereof in pivotal relation to said plunger assembly, biasing means resiliently engageable with said support
  • a multipole electric circuit breaker comprising a housing, a plurality of electrically isolated poles within said housing, a plurality of stationary contacts Within said poles, respectively, a plurality of movable contacts engageable with each respective stationary contact, a single releasable plunger assembly for effecting movement of the movable contacts into engagement with said stationary contacts, a trip device, having a set condition for maintaining said contacts in engagement and a tripped condition for releasing the engagement between the stationary and movable contacts in said tripped condition in response to ya preselected condition in said breaker, and means operably connected to said plunger assembly for relating the motion of said assembly mechanism to said movable contacts and engageable with said trip device for urging the engagement of said movable and stationary contacts during at least a portion of said motion and relieving said movable contacts from said engagement when said preselected conditions are sensed including support means supporting said movable contacts in pivotal relation to said plunger assembly and biasing means including resilient means resiliently engageable with said support means for urging
  • a multipole electric circuit breaker comprising a housing, a plurality of electrically isolated poles within said housing, a plurality of stationary contacts within said poles, respectively, a plurality of movable contacts engageable with each respective stationary contact, a single releasable plunger assembly for effecting movement of the movable contacts into engagement with s-aid stationary contacts, a trip device having a set condition for maintaining said contacts in engagement and a tripped condition for releasing the engagement between the stationary and movable contacts in said tripped condition in response to a preselected condition in said breaker, and means operably connected to said plunger assembly for relating the motion of said assembly mechanism to said 4movable contacts and engageable with said trip ⁇ device for urging the engagement of said movable and stationary contacts during at least a portion of said motion and relieving said movable contacts from said engagement when said preselected conditions are sensed including support means pivotally connected to said assembly for supporting said movable contacts in pivotal relation to said plunger assembly, biasing means resiliently engage
  • a multipole electric circuit breaker comprising a housing, a plurality of electrically isolated poles within said housing, a plurality of stationary contacts within said poles, respectively, a plurality of movable contacts engageable with each respective stationary contact, a single releasable plunger assembly for effecting movement of the movable contacts into engagement with said stationary contacts, a trip device having a set condition for maintaining said contacts in engagement and a tripped condition for releasing the engagement between the stationary and movable contacts in said tripped condition in response to a preselected condition in said breaker, and means operably connected to said plunger assembly for relating the motion of said ⁇ assembly mechanism to said movable contacts and engageable with said trip device for urging the engagement of said movable and stationary contacts during at least a portion of said motion and relieving said movable contacts from said engagement when said preselected conditions are sensed including a generally L-shaped support means piv-otallyconnected to said assembly at the end of one leg thereof and supporting said movable
  • a multipole electric circuit breaker comprising a housing, a plurality of electrically isolated poles within said housing, a plurality of stationary contacts within said poles, respectively, ya plurality of movable contacts engageable with each respective stationary contact, a single releasable plunger assembly for effecting movement of the movable contacts into engagement with said stationary contacts, a trip device having a set condition for maintaining said contacts in engagement and a tripped condition for releasing the engagement between the stationary and movable contacts in said tripped condition in response to a preselected condition in said breaker, and means operably connected to said plunger assembly for relating the motion of said assembly mechanism to said movable contacts and engageable with said trip device for urging the engagement of said movable and stationary contacts during at least a portion of said motion and relieving said movable contacts from said engagement when said preselected conditions are sensed including a generally L-shaped support means pivotally connected to said lassembly at the end of one leg thereof and supporting said movable contacts on an upper surface thereof

Landscapes

  • Breakers (AREA)
US433091A 1965-02-16 1965-02-16 Circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime US3291938A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US433091A US3291938A (en) 1965-02-16 1965-02-16 Circuit breaker
DE19651513371 DE1513371A1 (de) 1965-02-16 1965-11-16 Elektrischer UEberlastschalter
DEM53309U DE1932287U (de) 1965-02-16 1965-11-16 Elektrischer ueberlastschalter.
NL6515005A NL6515005A (OSRAM) 1965-02-16 1965-11-18

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US433091A US3291938A (en) 1965-02-16 1965-02-16 Circuit breaker

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3291938A true US3291938A (en) 1966-12-13

Family

ID=23718820

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US433091A Expired - Lifetime US3291938A (en) 1965-02-16 1965-02-16 Circuit breaker

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3291938A (OSRAM)
DE (2) DE1932287U (OSRAM)
NL (1) NL6515005A (OSRAM)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3743992A (en) * 1972-08-04 1973-07-03 Westinghouse Electric Corp Thermally responsive electrical control device for polyphase currents
US3990028A (en) * 1974-10-05 1976-11-02 Lucas Industries Limited Multiple circuit thermal circuit breakers
EP1701370A1 (de) * 2005-03-11 2006-09-13 ABB Schweiz AG Überstromauslöser für einen Schutzschalter

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2613296A (en) * 1949-06-24 1952-10-07 Morris B Wood Trip-free circuit breaker
US2686241A (en) * 1951-10-13 1954-08-10 Joseph E Straub Thermally operated electrical circuit breaker
US2701829A (en) * 1951-08-03 1955-02-08 Cutler Hammer Inc Manually operable circuit breaker
US2813168A (en) * 1956-10-11 1957-11-12 Metals & Controls Corp Electrical switch
US2831086A (en) * 1956-03-05 1958-04-15 Mechanical Products Inc Electric switch incorporating an automatic circuit breaker
US2958749A (en) * 1958-03-13 1960-11-01 Wood Electric Corp Electrical circuit breakers
US2960587A (en) * 1959-01-13 1960-11-15 Wood Electric Corp Trip-free overload circuit breaker
US3142737A (en) * 1960-09-09 1964-07-28 Wood Electric Corp Heat responsive wire circuit breaker
US3145281A (en) * 1961-01-23 1964-08-18 Mechanical Products Inc Multipole circuit breaker with trip devices located in the housing of a single pole
US3179757A (en) * 1961-06-09 1965-04-20 Square D Co Multi-circuit trip free overload switch

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2613296A (en) * 1949-06-24 1952-10-07 Morris B Wood Trip-free circuit breaker
US2701829A (en) * 1951-08-03 1955-02-08 Cutler Hammer Inc Manually operable circuit breaker
US2686241A (en) * 1951-10-13 1954-08-10 Joseph E Straub Thermally operated electrical circuit breaker
US2831086A (en) * 1956-03-05 1958-04-15 Mechanical Products Inc Electric switch incorporating an automatic circuit breaker
US2813168A (en) * 1956-10-11 1957-11-12 Metals & Controls Corp Electrical switch
US2958749A (en) * 1958-03-13 1960-11-01 Wood Electric Corp Electrical circuit breakers
US2960587A (en) * 1959-01-13 1960-11-15 Wood Electric Corp Trip-free overload circuit breaker
US3142737A (en) * 1960-09-09 1964-07-28 Wood Electric Corp Heat responsive wire circuit breaker
US3145281A (en) * 1961-01-23 1964-08-18 Mechanical Products Inc Multipole circuit breaker with trip devices located in the housing of a single pole
US3179757A (en) * 1961-06-09 1965-04-20 Square D Co Multi-circuit trip free overload switch

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3743992A (en) * 1972-08-04 1973-07-03 Westinghouse Electric Corp Thermally responsive electrical control device for polyphase currents
US3990028A (en) * 1974-10-05 1976-11-02 Lucas Industries Limited Multiple circuit thermal circuit breakers
EP1701370A1 (de) * 2005-03-11 2006-09-13 ABB Schweiz AG Überstromauslöser für einen Schutzschalter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1932287U (de) 1966-02-10
NL6515005A (OSRAM) 1966-08-17
DE1513371A1 (de) 1969-12-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4616206A (en) Circuit breaker and shunt trip apparatus combined within single pole device
US4737878A (en) Overload switch
US4510479A (en) PC-board mounted thermal breaker
GB1431576A (en) Thermally responsive electrical device
US2783330A (en) Automatic circuit breaker
US3291938A (en) Circuit breaker
US2943172A (en) Electric switch incorporating an automatic circuit breaker
US2978557A (en) Electric switch incorporating an automatic circuit breaker
US4038618A (en) Circuit breaker having thermal and solid state trip means
US2422508A (en) Circuit breaker
US4030060A (en) Thermally adjustable circuit breaker
US2322161A (en) Overload relay switch
US2071848A (en) Circuit breaker
US2456153A (en) Thermal cutout
US3708771A (en) Overload protection for electric motors
US3145281A (en) Multipole circuit breaker with trip devices located in the housing of a single pole
US3313898A (en) Circuit breaker with thermal trip device of high short-circuit withstandability
US2798919A (en) Electric circuit breaker
US3061697A (en) Thermal and magnetic trip device
US4520336A (en) Electrothermally actuated switch
US3185792A (en) Circuit breaker trip mechanism
US3324263A (en) Safety tripping mechanism
US2279737A (en) Circuit breaker protective system
US1985023A (en) Circuit breaker
US3451024A (en) Three-phase differential electrothermal relay

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: AIKEN INDUSTRIES, INC.

Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:MECHANICAL PRODUCTS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:003925/0572

Effective date: 19671227

AS Assignment

Owner name: AMSTAR TECHNICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC., 1251 AVEN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:NORLIN INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF DE.;REEL/FRAME:003957/0214

Effective date: 19811208