US 2013/0153379 A1Published application

Integrated En-Style Auxiliary Barrier Connector

AssigneeSensata Technologies, Inc.

InventorsKeith Richard Washburn, Stephen J. Bryant, William John Bentley

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Abstract

Techniques disclosed herein include a conversion technique that converts an aircraft circuit breaker having male auxiliary connectors (micro switch connectors) to an aircraft circuit breaker having female auxiliary connectors, such as those conventionally used on European-made aircraft. Techniques include adding a barrier to a conventional aircraft circuit breaker approved for U.S. markets. This barrier includes female auxiliary connectors integrated with the barrier, as well as a flexible circuit that connects the male connectors with the female connectors such that the female connectors can still receive separate male connectors in the female receptacles. Such a technique converts conventional aircraft circuit breakers into a European-style breaker without requiring a full European rebuild and re-qualification. Embodiments can include single and multiple phase versions, and configurations for use with high and low amperage.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An aircraft circuit breaker comprising:

a housing that and has a front surface, a rear surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a top surface, with each surface being generally rectangular;
a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal protruding from the top surface;
a circuit breaker mechanism enclosed within the housing, the circuit breaker mechanism electrically connecting the first electrical terminal to the second electrical terminal, the circuit breaker mechanism configured to interrupt electrical flow between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal in response to detecting a fault condition;
an electrical switch located at the top surface of the housing, the electrical switch having male connectors protruding from the electrical switch, the electrical switch having a switch mechanism that affects an electrical connection between the male connectors, the electrical switch configured such that the switch mechanism is actuated in response to the circuit breaker mechanism interrupting electrical flow between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal;
a barrier structure attached to the housing, the barrier structure being generally rectangular and elongated and having a length approximately equal to a length of the top surface, the barrier structure extending from a rear edge of the top surface of the housing and aligned approximately parallel with the rear surface and perpendicular to the top surface, the barrier structure defining two female electrical connector receptacles, each defined female electrical connector receptacle having a longitudinal axis approximately parallel with the rear surface, the defined female electrical connector receptacles having electrical contacts;
and
an electrical switch adaptation mechanism that connects the male connectors of the electrical switch with the electrical contacts of the defined female electrical connector receptacles without obstructing the defined female electrical connector receptacles.

4 more elements

An aircraft circuit breaker comprising:

a housing that and has a front surface, a rear surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a top surface, with each surface being generally rectangular;
three pairs of electrical terminals protruding from the top surface;
three circuit breaker mechanisms enclosed within the housing, each circuit breaker mechanism electrically connecting one pair of electrical terminals to each other, each circuit breaker mechanism configured to interrupt electrical flow between a respective pair of electrical terminals in response to detecting a fault condition;
an electrical switch located at the top surface of the housing and positioned between one pair of the three pairs of electrical terminals, the electrical switch having male connectors protruding from the electrical switch, the electrical switch having a switch mechanism that affects an electrical connection between the male connectors, the electrical switch configured such that the switch mechanism is actuated in response to one of the circuit breaker mechanisms interrupting electrical flow between a respective pair of electrical terminals;
a first barrier structure attached to the housing, the first barrier structure being generally rectangular and elongated and having a length approximately equal to a length of the top surface, the first barrier structure extending from the top surface of the housing such as to provide a first physical barrier between a first pair of the electrical terminals and a second pair of the electrical terminals;
a second barrier structure attached to the housing, the second barrier structure being generally rectangular and elongated and having a length approximately equal to a length of the top surface, the second barrier structure extending from the top surface of the housing such as to provide a second physical barrier between the second pair of the electrical terminals and a third pair of the electrical terminals, the second barrier structure defining two female electrical connector receptacles, each defined female electrical connector receptacle having a longitudinal axis approximately parallel with the rear surface, the defined female electrical connector receptacles having electrical contacts;
and
an electrical switch adaptation mechanism that connects the male connectors of the electrical switch with the electrical contacts of the defined female electrical connector receptacles without obstructing the defined female electrical connector receptacles.

5 more elements

An aircraft circuit breaker comprising:

a housing that has a front surface, a rear surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, and a top surface, with each surface being generally rectangular;
three pairs of electrical terminals protruding from the top surface;
three circuit breaker mechanisms enclosed within the housing, each circuit breaker mechanism electrically connecting one pair of electrical terminals to each other, each circuit breaker mechanism configured to interrupt electrical flow between a respective pair of electrical terminals in response to detecting a fault condition;
an electrical switch located at the top surface of the housing and positioned between one pair of the three pairs of electrical terminals, the electrical switch having male connectors protruding from the electrical switch, the electrical switch having a switch mechanism that affects an electrical connection between the male connectors, the electrical switch configured such that the switch mechanism is actuated in response to one of the circuit breaker mechanisms interrupting electrical flow between a respective pair of electrical terminals;
a first barrier structure attached to the housing, the first barrier structure being generally rectangular and elongated and having a length approximately equal to a length of the top surface, the first barrier structure extending from the top surface of the housing such as to provide a first physical barrier between a first pair of the electrical terminals and a second pair of the electrical terminals;
a second barrier structure attached to the housing, the second barrier structure being generally rectangular and elongated and having a length approximately equal to a length of the top surface, the second barrier structure extending from the top surface of the housing such as to provide a second physical barrier between the second pair of the electrical terminals and a third pair of the electrical terminals;
a third barrier structure attached to the housing, the third barrier structure being generally rectangular and elongated and having a length approximately equal to a length of the top surface, the third barrier structure extending from a rear edge of the top surface of the housing and aligned approximately parallel with the rear surface and perpendicular to the top surface, the third barrier structure defining two female electrical connector receptacles, each defined female electrical connector receptacle having a longitudinal axis approximately parallel with the rear surface, the defined female electrical connector receptacles having electrical contacts;
and
an electrical switch adaptation mechanism that connects the male connectors of the electrical switch with the electrical contacts of the defined female electrical connector receptacles without obstructing the defined female electrical connector receptacles.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/325,893Filed 14 Dec 2011
Published: 20 Jun 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H01H 71/08
Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00: terminals; Connections
H01H 71/465
Having means for operating auxiliary contacts additional to the main contacts: self-contained, easily replaceable microswitches
H01H 2071/086
Terminals; Connections: low power connections for auxiliary switches, e.g. shunt trip
H01H
Electric switches

Family

US 8,536,475 B2Related patent
US 2013/0153379 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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