# US 2013/0153375 A1 · Electronic circuit breaker, electronic circuit breaker subassembly, circuit breaker secondary electrical contact assembly, and powering methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153375 A1 - Document ID: US20130153375A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/768,028 - Filed: 2013-02-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-07 - Assignees: Siemens Industry, Inc. - Inventors: Guang Yang; Brian Timothy McCoy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153375A1 ## CPC - H01H 9/20: Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms - H01H 71/46: having means for operating auxiliary contacts additional to the main contacts - H01H 71/505: {Latching devices between operating and release mechanism} - H01H 71/62: with means for preventing resetting while abnormal condition persists, e.g. loose handle arrangement - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract Embodiments provide an electronic circuit breaker subassembly and circuit breaker secondary electrical contact assembly. The circuit breaker secondary electrical contact assembly has a main contact terminal connectable to a main power terminal, a secondary electrical contact set having a stationary secondary electrical contact and a moveable secondary electrical contact, a lockout conductor provided in spring-engaged contact with the main contact terminal on a first end and including one of the stationary or moving secondary electrical contacts on a second end, and a spring having the moveable secondary electrical contact provided on a moveable portion. Circuit breakers and methods of operating the electronic circuit breaker are provided, as are other aspects. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic circuit breaker subassembly, comprising: a housing; a main contact terminal connectable to a main power terminal; a secondary electrical contact set having a stationary secondary electrical contact and a moveable secondary electrical contact; a lockout conductor provided in spring-engaged contact with the main contact terminal on a first end and including one of the stationary or moving secondary electrical contacts on a second end; a spring having the moveable secondary electrical contact provided on a moveable portion; and a handle moveable between at least an ON configuration and an OFF configuration, the handle configured and operable to cause motion of the moveable portion and cause engagement of the moveable secondary electrical contact and stationary secondary electrical contact. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the spring comprises a leaf spring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic circuit breaker of claim 2 wherein the handle has a handle extension configured and operable to contact the leaf spring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the spring comprises a leaf spring comprising: a first portion stationarily received in the housing, and a second portion overlying the first portion and including the moveable secondary electrical contact on the moveable portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic circuit breaker of claim 4 wherein the first portion comprises a holding tab adapted to be stationarily inserted into a pocket in the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The electronic circuit breaker of claim 4 wherein the first portion comprises a wire tab having a wire secured to the wire tab, the wire being coupled to a printed circuit board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the first end of the lockout conductor provided in spring-engaged contact with the main contact terminal comprises a spring connector having a received portion received in a recess formed in the housing, the received portion including a backer portion adapted to contact the housing and a cantilever spring adapted to contact the main contact terminal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the main contact terminal includes a support tab received in a pocket of the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the main contact terminal includes the stationary electrical contact on a first side and the lockout conductor provided in spring-engaged contact on a second side opposite the first side. ### Claim 10 A circuit breaker secondary electrical contact assembly, comprising: a main contact terminal connectable to a main power terminal; a secondary electrical contact set having a stationary secondary electrical contact and a moveable secondary electrical contact; a lockout conductor provided in spring-engaged contact with the main contact terminal on a first end and including one of the stationary or moving secondary electrical contacts on a second end; and a spring having the moveable secondary electrical contact provided on a moveable portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The circuit breaker secondary electrical contact assembly of claim 10, wherein the spring comprises a leaf spring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The circuit breaker secondary electrical contact assembly of claim 10 comprising a printed circuit board coupled to receive electrical power through the lockout conductor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The circuit breaker secondary electrical contact assembly of claim 10, wherein the spring comprises a leaf spring having: a first portion stationarily received in the housing, and a second portion overlying the first portion and including the moveable secondary electrical contact on the moveable portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The circuit breaker secondary electrical contact assembly of claim 13 wherein the first portion comprises a holding tab adapted to be stationarily inserted into a pocket of a housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The circuit breaker secondary electrical contact assembly of claim 13 wherein the first portion comprises a wire tab having a wire secured to the wire tab, the wire being coupled to a printed circuit board. ### Claim 16 A method of powering a printed circuit board of a circuit electronic circuit breaker, comprising: providing a main contact terminal coupled to a main power terminal; providing a secondary electrical contact set having a stationary secondary electrical contact and a moveable secondary electrical contact, the moveable secondary electrical contact being coupled to a spring; electrically connecting a lockout conductor in spring-engaged contact with the main contact terminal on a first end and to one of the stationary secondary electrical contact or moving secondary electrical contact on a second end; and receiving power at a printed circuit board by contacting the spring with a handle extension to close the secondary electrical contact set. ### Claim 17 An electronic circuit breaker, comprising: a moveable contact arm; and a lockout mechanism operable to block motion of the moveable contact arm, the lockout mechanism having a lockout latch operatively pivotal about a pivot axis, a moveable stop adapted to contact the moveable contact arm, the moveable stop including an end latching surface having a non-90 degree angle configured to have a normal vector, and an engagement portion offset from the pivot axis, and an actuator operative to provide an unlock force at the engagement portion causing pivoting of the lockout latch about the pivot axis and release of the moveable contact arm wherein the end latching surface having a non-90 degree angle biases the lockout latch to a blocking condition. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An electronic circuit breaker of claim 17 wherein the non-90 degree angle is between about 2 degrees and about 50 degrees. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) An electronic circuit breaker of claim 17 wherein the non-90 degree angle is between about 2 degrees and about 10 degrees. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) An electronic circuit breaker of claim 17 wherein a normal vector of the end latching surface is directed at an opposite side of the pivot axis from the engagement portion.