Electrical switching apparatus and shunt tab assembly therefor
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsAndrew Lawrence Gottschalk, Brian John Schaltenbrand, Bradley P. Rizzo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shunt tab assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a number of shunts. The operating mechanism includes a trip unit. The shunt tab assembly includes a shunt tab structured to be electrically connected to the shunts, a biasing element structured to bias the shunt tab toward a predetermined position with respect to the housing, and a fastener structured to mechanically couple and electrically connect the trip unit to the shunt tab.
Claims16
A shunt tab assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, and a number of shunts, said operating mechanism including a trip unit, said shunt tab assembly comprising:
- a shunt tab structured to be electrically connected to said shunts;
- a biasing element structured to bias said shunt tab toward a predetermined position with respect to the housing;
- and
- a fastener structured to mechanically couple and electrically connect said trip unit to said shunt tab,
- wherein said biasing element is a leaf spring;
- and wherein said leaf spring is structured to cooperate with the housing of said electrical switching apparatus to bias said shunt tab toward said predetermined position,
- wherein the housing of said electrical switching apparatus comprises a plurality of vertical elements;
- wherein said shunt tab is structured to be disposed between a corresponding pair of said vertical elements;
- and wherein said leaf spring is structured to extend between said corresponding pair of said vertical elements, and
- wherein said leaf spring comprises a first end, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and a planar intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end;
- wherein said plurality of vertical elements comprises a first vertical element including a first molded projection and a second vertical element including a second molded projection disposed opposite and spaced from said first molded projection;
- wherein the first end of said leaf spring is structured to be retained by said first molded projection;
- wherein the second end of said leaf spring is structured to be retained by said second molded projection;
- and wherein the planar intermediate portion of said leaf spring engages and biases said shunt tab.
A shunt tab assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, and a number of shunts, said operating mechanism including a trip unit, said shunt tab assembly comprising:
- a shunt tab structured to be electrically connected to said shunts;
- a biasing element structured to bias said shunt tab toward a predetermined position with respect to the housing;
- and
- a fastener structured to mechanically couple and electrically connect said trip unit to said shunt tab,
- wherein said shunt tab is a single piece electrically conductive member comprising an exterior, an interior, and a cavity extending from the exterior to the interior, and
- wherein said fastener comprises a mounting bolt and a corresponding nut;
- wherein said nut is retained within said cavity;
- and wherein said mounting bolt extends from the exterior of said shunt tab to the interior of said shunt tab to engage said nut.
A shunt tab assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, and a number of shunts, said operating mechanism including a trip unit, said shunt tab assembly comprising:
- a shunt tab structured to be electrically connected to said shunts;
- a biasing element structured to bias said shunt tab toward a predetermined position with respect to the housing;
- and
- a fastener structured to mechanically couple and electrically connect said trip unit to said shunt tab,
- wherein said shunt tab is a single piece electrically conductive member comprising an exterior, an interior, and a cavity extending from the exterior to the interior, and
- wherein said single piece electrically conductive member further comprises opposing pivot points and a flange extending laterally between said opposing pivot points;
- wherein said opposing pivot points are structured to cooperate with the housing of said electrical switching apparatus;
- and wherein said flange is structured to be electrically connected to said shunts.
An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- separable contacts enclosed by the housing;
- an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a trip unit;
- a number of shunts;
- and
- at least one shunt tab assembly comprising:
- a shunt tab electrically connected to said shunts,
- a biasing element biasing said shunt tab toward a predetermined position with respect to the housing, and
- a fastener mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said trip unit to said shunt tab,
- wherein said biasing element is a leaf spring;
- and wherein said leaf spring cooperates with the housing to bias said shunt tab toward said predetermined position,
- wherein the housing comprises a plurality of vertical elements;
- wherein said shunt tab is disposed between a corresponding pair of said vertical elements;
- and wherein said leaf spring extends between said corresponding pair of said vertical elements, and
- wherein said leaf spring comprises a first end, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and a planar intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end;
- wherein said plurality of vertical elements comprises a first vertical element including a first molded projection and a second vertical element including a second molded projection disposed opposite and spaced from said first molded projection;
- wherein the first end of said leaf spring is retained by said first molded projection;
- wherein the second end of said leaf spring is retained by said second molded projection;
- and wherein the planar intermediate portion of said leaf spring engages and biases said shunt tab.
An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- separable contacts enclosed by the housing;
- an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a trip unit;
- a number of shunts;
- and
- at least one shunt tab assembly comprising:
- a shunt tab electrically connected to said shunts,
- a biasing element biasing said shunt tab toward a predetermined position with respect to the housing, and
- a fastener mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said trip unit to said shunt tab,
- wherein said shunt tab is a single piece electrically conductive member comprising an exterior, an interior, and a cavity extending from the exterior to the interior, and
- wherein said trip unit includes at least one mounting tab having a mounting hole;
- wherein said fastener comprises a mounting bolt and a corresponding nut;
- wherein said nut is retained within said cavity;
- and wherein said mounting bolt extends through the mounting hole of a corresponding one of said at least one mounting tab of said trip unit to the interior of said shunt tab to engage said nut, thereby mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said mounting tab to the exterior of said shunt tab.
An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- separable contacts enclosed by the housing;
- an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a trip unit;
- a number of shunts;
- and
- at least one shunt tab assembly comprising:
- a shunt tab electrically connected to said shunts,
- a biasing element biasing said shunt tab toward a predetermined position with respect to the housing, and
- a fastener mechanically coupling and electrically connecting said trip unit to said shunt tab,
- wherein said shunt tab is a single piece electrically conductive member comprising an exterior, an interior, and a cavity extending from the exterior to the interior, and
- wherein said single piece electrically conductive member further comprises opposing pivot points and a flange extending laterally between said opposing pivot points;
- wherein said opposing pivot points cooperate with the housing of said electrical switching apparatus;
- and wherein said flange is electrically connected to said shunts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.