Wire lug/arc vent barrier molded case circuit breaker
AssigneeSiemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
InventorsDavid A. Leone, Steve D. Still
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a wire lug arc vent barrier for protecting a wire lug in a molded case circuit breaker, with the circuit breaker having a housing with a terminal for a load connection and a terminal for a line connection. The wire lug/arc vent barrier comprises a body having a first end including a tang, a second end including an elongated finger and a middle portion between the first end and the second end defining a concave space, with an opening at each of the middle portion, wherein the body is mounted in the housing.
Claims20
A wire lug/arc vent barrier for protecting a wire lug in a circuit breaker, with the circuit breaker having a housing with a terminal for a load connection and a terminal for a line connection, the barrier comprising:
- a body having:
- a first end including a tang,
- a second end including an elongated finger, and
- a middle portion between the first end and the second end defining a concave space, with an opening at each end of the middle portion,
- wherein the body is mounted in the housing.
A molded case circuit breaker comprising:
- a molded case including a main cover;
- a first terminal and a second terminal inserted in the case;
- a first contact electrically coupled to the first terminal;
- a second contact electrically coupled to the second terminal;
- an operating mechanism having a pivoting member moveable between an ON position, an OFF position and a TRIPPED position, wherein the pivoting member is coupled to the second contact;
- a trip unit coupled to the second contact and the second terminal with the trip unit in selective operative contact with the operating mechanism;
- an electric arc extinguishing apparatus mounted in the housing and positioned in confronting relation with the first and second contacts;
- and,
- a wire lug/arc vent barrier coupled to the terminal, the barrier comprising:
- a body having:
- a first end including a tang,
- a second end including an elongated finger, and,
- a middle portion between the first end and the second end defining a concave space, with an opening at each end of the middle portion, wherein the body is mounted in the housing.
A circuit breaker comprising:
- a molded housing including a base;
- a means for connecting a load to the circuit breaker, mounted in the housing;
- a means for connecting an electrical line to the circuit breaker;
- a means for coupling electrically to the means for connecting an electrical line;
- a movable means for contacting the means for connecting an electrical line to a means for operating mounted in the housing coupled with the means for operating having a pivoting member movable between an ON position, an OFF position, and a TRIPPED position, with the pivoting member coupled to the movable means for contacting and with the means for operating;
- a means for tripping coupled to the movable means for contacting and the means for connecting a load with the means for operating, wherein the means for tripping includes a means for releasing under a short circuit condition and a means for releasing under an overload condition;
- a means for extinguishing an electric arc mounted in the housing with the movable means for contacting extending into the means for extinguishing;
- and,
- a means for shielding the means for connecting the load and the line, mounted in the housing.
A method of assembling a wire lug/arc vent barrier system for a molded case circuit breaker having a housing with a load terminal, a line terminal, an operating mechanism connected to the line terminal, a trip unit coupled to the operating mechanism and the load terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a wire lug/arc vent barrier having a body, a first end including a tang, a second end including an elongated finger, and a middle portion between the first end and the second end defining a concave space, with an opening at each end of the middle portion;
- providing a wire lug;
- installing the wire lug in the concave space;
- installing the wire lug/arc vent barrier and installed wire lug in the housing of the circuit breaker;
- and;
- securing the wire lug/arc vent barrier and installed wire lug to the housing and one of the line terminal and load terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.