Electromagnet Assembly Directly Driving Latch Of An Electronic Circuit Breaker

A circuit breaker for electrical power distribution circuits, comprising:

• a housing including therein:
• a pair of separable contacts for selectively opening and closing an electrical power distribution circuit current flow when the contacts are in respective opened and closed positions,
• an operating mechanism coupled to the contacts for selectively opening and closing the contacts,
• an overload trip unit for detecting overload conditions in an electrical power distribution circuit, having a pivotal latch sweeping a pivotal motion volume and a latch extension coupled to the latch projecting outside of the pivotal motion volume, the latch engageable with the operating mechanism, wherein the contacts are maintained in the closed position when the latch is engaged with the operating mechanism and the contacts are open when the latch is disengaged from the operating mechanism, the trip unit disengaging the latch upon detection of an overload condition,
• an electromagnet unit having windings, oriented in the housing laterally to the latch swept volume proximal the latch extension without any components interposed there between, the electromagnet directly attracting the latch extension and disengaging the latch when the windings are energized, and
• a fault interruption unit for detecting fault conditions in an electrical power distribution circuit, electrically coupled to the electromagnet windings, the interruption unit energizing the electromagnet unit upon detection of a fault condition.

A circuit breaker for electrical power distribution circuits, comprising:

• a housing having at least a pair of first and second compartments defining an inter-compartment aperture there between, the first compartment including therein:
• a pair of separable contacts for selectively opening and closing an electrical power distribution circuit current flow when the contacts are in respective opened and closed positions,
• an operating mechanism coupled to the contacts for selectively opening and closing the contacts,
• an overload trip unit for detecting overload conditions in an electrical power distribution circuit, having a moveable latch and a latch extension coupled to the latch, the latch engageable with the operating mechanism, wherein the contacts are maintained in the closed position when the latch is engaged with the operating mechanism and the contacts are open when the latch is disengaged from the operating mechanism, the trip unit disengaging the latch upon detection of an overload condition;
• the second compartment including therein:
• an electromagnet unit having windings, oriented proximal the latch extension, the electromagnet attracting the latch extension and disengaging the latch when the windings are energized, and
• a fault interruption unit for detecting fault conditions in an electrical power distribution circuit, electrically coupled to the electromagnet windings, the interruption unit energizing the electromagnet unit upon detection of a fault condition.

A circuit breaker for electrical power distribution circuits, comprising:

• a housing including therein:
• a pair of separable contacts for selectively opening and closing an electrical power distribution circuit current flow when the contacts are in respective opened and closed positions,
• an operating mechanism coupled to the contacts for selectively opening and closing the contacts,
• an overload trip unit for detecting overload conditions in an electrical power distribution circuit, having a pivotal latch defining a pivot axis and radius, the latch sweeping a pivotal motion volume, a latch extension attached to the latch, at least a portion of the latch extension projecting generally tangentially to the pivot radius, the latch engageable with the operating mechanism, wherein the contacts are maintained in the closed position when the latched is engaged with the operating mechanism and the contacts are open when the latch is disengaged from the operating mechanism, the trip unit disengaging the latch upon detection of an overload condition,
• an electromagnet unit having windings, oriented in the housing laterally spaced away from the tangential portion of the latch extension, the electromagnet directly attracting the tangential portion of the latch extension and disengaging the latch when the windings are energized, and
• a fault interruption unit for detecting fault conditions in an electrical power distribution circuit, electrically coupled to the electromagnet windings, the interruption unit energizing the electromagnet unit upon detection of a fault condition.