US3806847A - Circuit interrupter trip device - Google Patents

Circuit interrupter trip device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3806847A
US3806847A US00352824A US35282473A US3806847A US 3806847 A US3806847 A US 3806847A US 00352824 A US00352824 A US 00352824A US 35282473 A US35282473 A US 35282473A US 3806847 A US3806847 A US 3806847A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
trip
pin
circuit interrupter
bar
trip bar
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
US00352824A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
J Salvati
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.)
Westinghouse Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Westinghouse Electric Corp
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 Westinghouse Electric Corp filed Critical Westinghouse Electric Corp
Priority to US00352824A priority Critical patent/US3806847A/en
Priority to AU67654/74A priority patent/AU490029B2/en
Priority to JP1974042894U priority patent/JPS541589Y2/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3806847A publication Critical patent/US3806847A/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
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/128—Manual release or trip mechanisms, e.g. for test purposes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H69/00—Apparatus or processes for the manufacture of emergency protective devices
    • H01H69/01—Apparatus or processes for the manufacture of emergency protective devices for calibrating or setting of devices to function under predetermined conditions
    • H01H2069/013—Apparatus or processes for the manufacture of emergency protective devices for calibrating or setting of devices to function under predetermined conditions with calibrating screws in trip bar
    • 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
    • H01H71/74—Means for adjusting the conditions under which the device will function to provide protection
    • H01H2071/7481—Means for adjusting the conditions under which the device will function to provide protection with indexing means for magnetic or thermal tripping adjustment knob
    • 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
    • H01H71/164—Heating elements

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 1973 A circuit interrupter trip device responsive to abnor- [21 1 App], 352 824 mal currents in conductors of an electrical distribution system characterized by a circuit breaker within a first insulating housing and having a mechanism for open- [5? US. Cl.., 335/176, 335/42 ing and closing separable contacts which mechanism [5 git. C]. H0!
  • 9/09 comprises a releasable memberv movable from latched [58] of Search 335/176 to unlatched positions, trip means comprising a sta- 200/166 M tionary magnetic structure for each conductor as well 56 R f as a coil and core assembly and armature therefor, 21 1 e erences trip bar movable to unlatch the circuit breaker mecha- UNITED STATES PATENTS nism and biased in the latched positions, anda manu- 3,073,925 1/1963 Thomas et al. 335 42 ally operable trip pin for moving the trip bar to the un- 3,260,822 7/1966 Stephenson et al 335/42 latched position.
  • This invention pertains to a circuit interrupter and more particularly it pertains to a manually releasable pin for tripping the interrupter to the open circuit position.
  • a protective device for a circuit interrupter which comprises a stationary magnetic structure for each conductor of an electrical distribution system and comprising a coil and core assembly and an armature, a trip bar movable to effect tripping of the circuit breaker mechanism and being biased in the latched position, a lever means associated with each stationary magnetic structure for moving the trip bar to the unlatched position, the lever means comprising the armature and being movable in response to abnormal currents in at least one of the conductors, the lever means also comprising a lever which is biased away from the core assembly, means for adjusting the spacing between the lever and the core assembly, and a manually operable member for moving the trip bar to the tripped position.
  • the advantage of the device of this invention is that it provides for a more efficient unit.
  • a circuit breaker is generally indicated at 3 and it comprises an insulating housing 5 and a circuit breaker mechanism 7'supported within the housing.
  • the housing 5 comprises an insulating base 9 and an insulating cover ll.v
  • the circuit breaker mechanism 7 comprises an operating mechanism 13, and a latch and trip device 15. Except for the latch and trip device, the circuit breaker 3 is of the type that is generally described in the patent to Albert R. Cellerini et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,287,534 issued Nov. 22, I966.
  • the circuit breaker 3 is a threepole circuit breaker comprising three compartments disposed in side-by-side relationship.
  • the center pole compartment (FIG. 1) is separated from the two outer pole compartments by insulating barrier walls formed with the housing base 9 and cover 11.
  • the operating mechanism 13 is disposed in the center pole compartment and is a single operating mechanism for operating the contacts of all three pole units.
  • Each pole unit comprises a stationary contact 21 that is fixedly secured to a rigid main conductor 23 that in turn is secured to the base 9 by bolt 25.
  • a movable contact 27 is welded or brazed to a contact arm 29 that is mounted on a switch arm 31 by a pivot pin 33.
  • the arms 29 and 31 for all three of the pole units are supported at one end thereof and rigidly connected on a common insulating tie bar 35 by which the arms of all three pole units move in unison.
  • Each of the contact arms 29 is biased about the associated pivot pin 33 by means of a spring 37 to provide contact pressure in the closed position.
  • the operating mechanism 13 actuates the switch arms 31 between open and closed positions.
  • the mechanism comprises a pivoted formed operating lever 39, a toggle comprising. two toggle links 41 and 43, overcenter springs 45and 47, and a pivoted releasable cradle or arm 49 controlled by the trip device 15.
  • An insulating shield 51"for substantially closing an opening 53 in the cover 1 l, is mounted on the outer ends of the operating lever 39 and has an integral handle portion 55 extending out through the opening to enable manual operation of the breaker.
  • the toggle links 41 and 43 are pivotallyconnected together by a knee pivot pin 57.
  • the toggle link 41 is pivotally connected to the releasable arm 49 by a pin 59
  • the toggle link 43 is pivotally connected to the switch arm 31 of the center pole unit by a pin 61.
  • the overcenter springs 45 and 47 are connected under tension between the knee pivot pin 57 and the outer end of the operating lever 39.
  • the circuit breaker is manually operated to the open position by movement of the handle portion 55 in a counterclockwise direction to the OFF position, which movement actuates the overcenter springs 45, 47 to collapse the toggle links 41 and 43 to the position shown in FIG. 1, and opening movement of the contact 7 arm 29 for all of the pole units in a manner well known in the art.
  • the circuit breaker is manually closed by reverse movement of the handle portion 55 from the OFF position to the ON position, which movement causes the springs 45, 47.to move overcenter and straighten the toggle links 41, 43 thereby movingthe contact arm 29, for all'of the pole units, to the closed position as shown in broken line position.
  • the trip device 15 serves to effect automatic release of the releasable cradle or arm 49 and opening of the breaker contacts for all of the pole units, in response to predetermined overload conditions in the circuit breaker through any or all poleiunits of the circuit breaker, in a manner described hereinbelow.
  • each pole unit extends from a right-hand terminal 63 through the conductor 23, the contacts 21, 27, the contact arm 29, a flexible conductor 65, that is secured to the contact arm 29, a conductor 67, a trip conductor 69, to a left-hand terminal connector 71.
  • Bolt means 73 secure one end of the trip conductor 69 to the conductor 67 and the other end of the trip conductor 69 is disposed between a backup plate 75 and the terminal 71 where it is secured in place by mounting bolt 77 of the terminal 71.
  • the latch and trip device comprises a molded insulating housing base 81 and a molded insulating housing cover 79 secured to the base to enclose a molded insulating trip bar 83 that is common to all three of the pole units.
  • the base 81 includes a pair of spaced partitions 85 and 87 which are vertically disposed and integral with the base for separating the interior of the housing into three compartments, each compartment containing one of the three poles.
  • the cover 79 is provided with partitions corresponding to partitions 85 and 87 and have mating surfaces therewith in a manner similar to the mating surfaces of the peripheral surfaces of the base 81 and cover 79 as indicated by a parting line 89 (FIG. 6).
  • each section of the trip bar 83 located within the space compartments of the housing compriseupper and lower portions 83a and 8312, which are above and below the axis of rotation of the trip bar.
  • Each upper portion 83a is provided with an adjusting screw and nut assembly 99 which cooperates 'with a bimetal member 101 for adjusting the spacing between the upper ends of the bimetal member and the trip bar portion 83a in response to the degree of deflection of the upper end of the member 101 toward the member 83a, whereby the trip bar 83 is rotated clockwise by the bimetal member and thereby trips the circuit breaker to the open position.
  • the lower end portion 83b of the trip bar 83 is preferably provided with a drive screw 103 by which contact is made with an adjoining member for similar rotation of the trip bar in the manner to be described hereinbelow.
  • the trip conductor 69 includes an inverted U-shaped intermediate portion 69a which constitutes a single loop of a stationary magnetic structure.
  • Stationary magnetic structure also comprises a magnetic core 105, a U-shaped frame 107 having a pair of spaced flanges 109 one of which is shown in FIG. 5, and an armature 1 11.
  • the assembly of the intermediate U-shaped portion 69a, the core 105, and the intermediate portion of the frame 107 together with the lower portion of the bimetal member 101 are secured in place by suitable means such as rivets 113 on the housing base'79.
  • the lower end portion of the bimetal member 101 is in surface to surface contact with the conductor 69 whereby upon the occurrence of a low persistent overload current below a predetermined value of, for example, ten times normal rated current, the bimetal member 101 is heated ane deflects to the right through an air gap dependent upon the setting of the adjustment screw 99.
  • a low persistent overload current occurs, the trip bar 83 is actuated to trip the circuit breaker.
  • the armature 111 is disposed between the space flanges 109 of the U-shaped frame 107 and is pivotally mounted therein to rotate about an axis 115 near the lower end of the armature.
  • the armature 111 is preferably mounted by suitable means such as rivets 117 on a support lever 119 having oppositely extending out-turned lugs 121 which are seated in corresponding openings 123 in the flanges 109.
  • Each flange 109 is also provided with a V-shaped notch 125 into which edge portions of the lever 1 19 and armature 111 extend. The notches 125 thereby limit movement of the assembly of the lever 119 and armature 111 when the armature is attracted toward the core 105.
  • means are provided for adjusting the spacing between the armature 111 and the core 105, whereby upon maximum spacing of the armature from the core, a greater current overload is required to attract the armature toward the core. Conversely, when the spacing is reduced, a smaller overload current is required to actuate the trip bar 83.
  • a bracket 129 having a lower end disposed over the upper end of the lever 119 is mounted within the housing and is provided with calibration means including a calibration screw 131 at the upper end of the bracket 129. As shown in FIG.
  • each bracket 129 includes a notch 133 on each opposite side thereof which notch is seated in corresponding projections 135 of the housing base 79 where the brackets 129 are retained in place by the cover 81.
  • An adjusting knob 137 is seated within the top end of the housing base and is provided with a lower end portion having a cam surface. Inasmuch as the bracket 129 is biased counterclockwise about its pivot by the springs 127 of the lowerlever 1 19 the calibration screw 131 rides on the cam surface of a lower portion 139 of the adjusting knob 137.
  • each adjusting knob 137 includes a flange 141, the lower surface of which includes spaced notches 143.
  • An index member is disposed below the flange 143 and is provided with a projection 147 for engaging one of the spaced notches 143 as the calibrating screw 137 is rotated to the desired position. Accordingly, the desired spacing between the armature 111 and the core 105 is established by rotation of the adjusting knob 137.
  • a removable flexible shield 149 is disposed in an access opening 151 of the cover 79 in order to turn the calibrating screws 131 and 99. When the calibration is made, the shield 149 is replaced in the opening.
  • the mechanism by which the releasable arm 49 is released is shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6.
  • the mechanism includes the trip bar 83, a trip lever 153 and a latch lever 155.
  • a U-shaped mounting frame 157 is mounted on the base 81 with spaced upright sides 157a and 157b providing mounting support for the levers.
  • the trip lever 153 includes a U-shaped portion 159 at the lower end which portion is mounted on a pivot pin 161 which extends from the side 157a of the frame.
  • the U-shaped lower portion of the lever maintains the lever upright adjacent the frame side 157a.
  • the upper end of the trip lever 153 includes a flange 163 which engages a notch 165 on the trip bar 83. As shown in FIG. 4 a portion of the trip bar extends through an opening 167 in the insulating base 79.
  • the latch lever 155 includes down-turned portions 155a and 15512 which are mounted on a pivot pin 169 the opposite ends of which are secured in the sides 157a and 157b of the frame 157.
  • a spring 171 is mounted on the pin 169 and has end portions engaging the levers 153 and 155 for biasing the levers in the latched positions.
  • the arm which is pivoted on a pivot pin 173 is secured in the latched position below the lever 155 and applies a rotatable force thereon.
  • the latch lever 155 is prevented from turning due to engagement of the lower end of the lever on a pin 175 which is mounted in the U-shaped portion 159 of the trip lever 153.
  • the trip lever 153 is biased clockwise and is prevented from movement by engagement of the flange 163 in the notch 165 of the trip bar 83.
  • the trip bar is rotated clockwise, the flange 163 is dislodged from the latch position within the notch 165 and the trip lever 153 rotates clockwise to move the pin 175 from engagement with the lower end of the latched lever 155, as a result the latch lever 155 is free to rotate about the pin 169 and thereby unlatch the releasable arm 49 from the latched position.
  • the circuit breaker 3 comprises means for manually tripping the breaker.
  • the means includes a pushbutton or pin 177 which is disposed in a bore 179 of the adjusting knob 137.
  • a compression spring 181 is provided in the bore 179 to hold the pin 177 in the non-trip or retracted position.
  • the lower end of the pin 177 has tapered or bevelled sides 183 and has a diameter greater than that of the pin.
  • the upper end of the pin 177 has a cap 185 which is seated within an enlarged portion or recess 187 of the bore 179. In the retracted position the pin 177 is seated well within the recess 187 so that no accidental tripping is possible.
  • the pin 177 is depressed by inserting a small screwdriver, or other small tool, into the recess.
  • the adjusting knob 137 may be rotated without affecting the position of the pin. I
  • the manual tripping means comprises an inclined surface 189 at the upper edge of the trip bar 83 aligned with the inclined surface 189.
  • the conical or tapered side 183 engages the inclined surface 189 and rotates the trip bar 83 clockwise (FIG. 5) to trip the circuit breaker 3 as described above.
  • the pin 177 and the trip bar 83 are both disclosed as having inclined or bevelled surfaces, it is understood that the device would be operable if one of the trip bar and pin were provided with inclined or bevelled surfaces.
  • the device of the present invention provides a new and novel trip device for a circuit breaker which is of a more compact size than the previous trip devices of the same rating.
  • a circuit interrupter trip device comprising a circuit breaker having a first insulating housing, a circuit breaker mechanism within the housing and comprising separable contacts adapted to be-connected as part of the distribution system, the circuit breaker mechanism comprising a releasable member movable when released from a latched position to effect opening of the contacts, a stationary magnetic structure for eachconductor of the distribution system and comprising a coil and core assembly and an armature, a trip bar movable to a tripped position to effect release of the releasable member and being biased in the latched position, the housing having an opening therein, an adjusting knob accessible at the opening and being manually operable to adjust the trip characteristics of the trip means, the adjusting knob having a bore therethrough, a trip pin accessible at the bore and being manually movable between retracted and depressed positions with the trip bar, and the trip pin being biased in the retracted position and being movable to the depressed position to move said trip bar to the tripped
  • circuit interrupter trip device of claim 1 in which the magnetic structure and the trip bar are mounted within a second insulating housing, and the second insulating housing being mounted within the 7 first insulating housing.

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US00352824A 1973-04-19 1973-04-19 Circuit interrupter trip device Expired - Lifetime US3806847A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00352824A US3806847A (en) 1973-04-19 1973-04-19 Circuit interrupter trip device
AU67654/74A AU490029B2 (en) 1973-04-19 1974-04-08 Improvements in or relating to circuit interrupter trip device
JP1974042894U JPS541589Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-04-19 1974-04-18

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00352824A US3806847A (en) 1973-04-19 1973-04-19 Circuit interrupter trip device

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US3806847A true US3806847A (en) 1974-04-23

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US00352824A Expired - Lifetime US3806847A (en) 1973-04-19 1973-04-19 Circuit interrupter trip device

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US (1) US3806847A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS541589Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4181906A (en) * 1977-11-23 1980-01-01 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit interrupter with interlocked removable trip unit
US4313098A (en) * 1980-01-16 1982-01-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit interrupter trip unit
US4761626A (en) * 1984-12-26 1988-08-02 Hitachi, Ltd. Circuit breaker
EP0747919A3 (en) * 1995-06-07 1998-04-22 Eaton Corporation Dual action armature
US6104273A (en) * 1999-06-09 2000-08-15 General Electric Company Calibration assembly and process for use in a circuit protective device
WO2008128672A3 (de) * 2007-04-19 2009-05-14 Abb Ag Verriegelungsvorrichtung für ein installationsschaltgerät

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS58906Y2 (ja) * 1977-12-09 1983-01-08 松下電工株式会社 過電流保護継電器

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3073925A (en) * 1959-06-10 1963-01-15 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US3260822A (en) * 1960-03-02 1966-07-12 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker with improved armature adjustment means and armature pivot means
US3505626A (en) * 1968-07-11 1970-04-07 Ite Imperial Corp Electromagnetic device for circuit breaker trip unit assembly
US3617671A (en) * 1969-01-03 1971-11-02 Lucas Industries Ltd Plunger-operated switch with offset adjustment means

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3073925A (en) * 1959-06-10 1963-01-15 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US3260822A (en) * 1960-03-02 1966-07-12 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker with improved armature adjustment means and armature pivot means
US3505626A (en) * 1968-07-11 1970-04-07 Ite Imperial Corp Electromagnetic device for circuit breaker trip unit assembly
US3617671A (en) * 1969-01-03 1971-11-02 Lucas Industries Ltd Plunger-operated switch with offset adjustment means

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4181906A (en) * 1977-11-23 1980-01-01 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit interrupter with interlocked removable trip unit
US4313098A (en) * 1980-01-16 1982-01-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit interrupter trip unit
US4761626A (en) * 1984-12-26 1988-08-02 Hitachi, Ltd. Circuit breaker
EP0747919A3 (en) * 1995-06-07 1998-04-22 Eaton Corporation Dual action armature
US6104273A (en) * 1999-06-09 2000-08-15 General Electric Company Calibration assembly and process for use in a circuit protective device
WO2008128672A3 (de) * 2007-04-19 2009-05-14 Abb Ag Verriegelungsvorrichtung für ein installationsschaltgerät
CN101681733B (zh) * 2007-04-19 2012-08-29 Abb股份有限公司 室内布线开关设备锁定装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS541589Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1979-01-24
JPS504267U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-01-17
AU6765474A (en) 1975-10-09

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