Circuit breaker mechanism
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRoger Castonguay, Randy Greenburg, Dennis Doughty, Dave S. Christensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism for operating a plurality of circuit interruption mechanisms of a circuit breaker, the mechanism applies a uniform force to the circuit interruption mechanisms. The mechanism applies a force to an elongated member for manipulating the circuit interruption mechanisms. The mechanism applies a force to the elongated member at a first position and a second position, the first position and the second position being intermediate to a center of the elongated member and the plurality of circuit interruption mechanisms.
Claims29
A circuit breaker comprising:
- a) a first, second, third and fourth pole, each of said poles having a circuit interruption mechanism said circuit interruption mechanism of said first, second, third and fourth poles being manipulated from an open position to a closed position by an elongated member that passes though an opening in an actuation member of each of said circuit interruption mechanisms of said first, second, third and fourth poles, said second pole being positioned intermediate to said first pole and said third pole, said third pole being positioned intermediate to said second and said fourth pole;
- b) a single operating mechanism for applying a force to said elongated member, said operating mechanism applying a force to said elongated member at a first position and a second position, said first position being intermediate said first and second poles and said second position being intermediate said third and fourth poles.
A single operating mechanism for use with a circuit breaker having a plurality of phases, each phase having a circuit interruption mechanism, said mechanism comprising:
- a) a pair of sidewalls, said sidewalls being positioned to straddle at least two of said plurality of phases;
- b) a pair of linkage mechanisms, each of said linkage mechanisms comprising:
- i) a crank, for receiving and manipulating a crank pin;
- ii) a lower link pivotally connected to said crank at one end and pivotally connected to an upper link at the other end;
- and
- iv) a cradle pivotally connected to said sidewall and said upper link being pivotally connected to said cradle at a point remote from said lower link;
- c) a handle yoke being pivotally mounted to said sidewalls for movement in a range defined by a first position and a second position and said handle yoke being configured, dimensioned and positioned to cause said upper and lower links to move as said handle yoke is moved within said range, the movement of said upper and lower links causes said crank to apply a force to said crank pin at a first position and a second position, said first position being intermediate to a first pair of circuit interruption mechanisms and said second position being intermediate to a second pair of circuit interruption mechanisms said force being applied to said crank pin applies a symmetrical force to a circuit interruption mechanism of said first pair of circuit interruption mechanisms and a circuit interruption mechanism of said second pair of circuit interruption mechanisms.
The method of providing a symmetrical force to an operating arm of a circuit interruption mechanism, comprising:
- determining a center of a crank pin for applying forces to an operating arm;
- and
- applying a force to said crank pin at a first position and a second position, said first and second positions being equidistant from the center of said crank pin, said force being applied by a single operating mechanism.
An operating mechanism for use with a circuit breaker having a plurality of circuit interruption mechansims, said mechanism comprising:
- a) a pair of sidewalls each having an inner and outer surface, said inner surfaces of said pair of sidewalls being in a facing spaced relationship with respect to each other and at least two of said circuit interruption mechanisms being positioned in between said inner surface is of said pair of sidewalls;
- b) a crank pin being operatively coupled to said circuit interruption mechanisms;
- b) a pair of linkage mechanisms one of said pair of linkage mechanisms being mounted to one of said pair of sidewalls and the other one being mounted to the other one of said pair of sidewalls, each of said linkage mechanisms comprising:
- i) a crank, having a crank opening for receiving and engaging said crank pin, said crank being mounted to said sidewall for movement in a range defined by a first position and a second position;
- ii) a lower link pivotally connected to said crank at one end and pivotally connected to an upper link at the other end;
- and
- iii) a cradle pivotally connected to said sidewall and said upper link being fixedly secured to said cradle at a point remote from said lower link;
- c) a handle yoke being pivotally mounted to said sidewalls for movement in a range defined by an open position and a closed position and said handle yoke being configured, dimensioned and positioned to cause said cradles to pivot with respect to said sidewalls, the movement of said cradles causing said upper and lower links to move, the movement of said upper and lower links causes said cranks to engage and apply a force to said crank pin.
The method of providing a symmetrical force to an operating arm of a circuit interruption mechanism, comprising:
- determining a center of a crank pin for applying forces to an operating arm;
- and applying a force to said crank pin at a first position and a second position, said first and second positions being equidistant from the center of said crank pin, said force being applied by a single means for applying said force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.