Circuit interrupter with electromagnetic opening means
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorJohn A. Wafer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit interrupter characterized by a movable contact arm disposed between two spaced stationary contacts which arm is movable to the open position by electromagnetic forces generated by an overload current condition.
Claims17
A circuit interrupter protective device for responding to abnormal currents in the conductors of an electrical distribution system, comprising a housing, a circuit interrupter structure supported in said housing and comprising a pair of stationary contacts, moveable contacts cooperable with said stationary contacts, a briding contact arm carrying said movable contacts, support means supporting said contact arm for generally rectilinear, movement between closed and open positions, a magnetic drive structure comprising a magnetic device of magnetic material having an open slot therein open at one end thereof and closed at the other end thereof, said contact arm being positioned in said slot in proximity to the open end of said slot, said support means including movable means for moving said contact arm to the closed position, the circuit through said circuit interrupter passing through said contact arm and said contacts in the closed position of said contact arm, and upon the occurrence of an overload current above a predetermined value through said contact arm the magnetic flux generated by said current in said contact arm operating in said magnetic device to drive said contact arm into said slot toward the closed end of said slot to therefore open said contacts.
A circuit interrupter protective device for responding to abnormal currents in the conductors of an electrical distribution system, comprising a housing, a circuit interrupter structure supported in said housing and comprising a pair of spaced stationary contacts, movable contacts cooperable with said stationary contacts, a contact arm carrying the movable contacts, support means supporting said contact arm for movement between closed and open positions, the support means being located substantially centrally between the spaced stationary contacts, a magnetic drive structure comprising a magnetic device of magnetic material and having an open slot therein open at one end thereof, and closed at the other end thereof, said contact arm being positioned in said slot in proximity to the open end of said slot, said support means comprising movable means for moving the contact arm to the closed position, the circuit through said circuit interrupter passing through said contact arm and said contacts in the closed position of said contact arm, and upon the occurrence of an overload current above a predetermined value through said contact arm the magnetic flux generated by said current in said contact arm operating in said magnetic device to drive said contact arm into said slot toward the closed end of said slot to thereby open said contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.