Blocking members and circuit breakers having quick-make feature
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDavid Peter MIKA, Linda Yvonne JACOBS, Daniel Edward DELFINO, Nagesh V. TUMU, Dmitry POVOLOTSKIY
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blocking member for an actuator having a movable arm for effecting a quick-make feature, includes for example, an elongated member having a first end and a second end, and wherein a portion of said elongated member being configured so that said blocking member disposed in a first position engages a portion of the movable arm of the actuator to restrain movement of the movable arm, and so that said blocking member disposed in a second position disengages from the portion of the movable arm of the actuator to permit movement of the movable arm.
Claims21
A blocking member for an actuator having a movable arm for effecting a quick-make feature, said blocking member comprising:
- an elongated member having a first end and a second end;
- and
- wherein a portion of said elongated member being configured so that said blocking member disposed in a first position engages a portion of the movable arm of the actuator to restrain movement of the movable arm, and so that said blocking member disposed in a second position disengages from the portion of the movable arm of the actuator to permit movement of the movable arm.
A circuit breaker having a quick-make feature, the circuit breaker comprising:
- a frame;
- a stationary electrical contact attached to said frame;
- a movable arm having a first end attachable to said frame and a second end having an electrical contact releaseably contactable with said stationary electrical contact;
- and
- an actuator mechanism comprising:
- a main biasing means operable to apply a first force to move said movable arm in a first direction to open said electrical contacts;
- a contact biasing means operable to apply a second force to move said movable arm in a second direction to close said electrical contacts;
- and
- a blocking member configured so that said blocking member in a first position engages a portion of said movable arm to restrain movement of said movable arm by said main biasing means and maintain said electrical contacts open, and so that said blocking member disposed in a second position disengages from said portion of said movable arm to permit movement of said movable arm by said contact biasing means to close said electrical contacts.
A method for moving a movable arm to effect a quick-make feature, the method comprising:
- engaging the movable arm with a blocking member to restrain movement of the movable arm in a first direction;
- and
- disengaging the movable arm from the blocking member to allow movement of the movable arm in the first direction.
A method for actuating a circuit breaker for opening and closing electrical contacts, the method comprising:
- engaging a movable arm with a blocking member to restrain movement of the movable arm in a first direction and maintain the electrical contacts open;
- and
- disengaging the blocking member from the movable arm to allow movement of the movable arm in the first direction to close the electrical contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.