US 4,056,798 A · Current limiting circuit breaker

Abstract

A circuit breaker includes a slotted magnetic device having a plurality of spaced slotted conductive plates and a moving contact arm positioned within the slot when the circuit breaker is in a closed circuit position so that current flowing through the contact arm has a component in a vertical direction with respect to the slot. An overcurrent condition through the circuit breaker causes magnetic flux to be generated within the slotted magnetic device which develops a force to drive the moving contact arm from the front to the rear of the slot in a direction generally parallel to the bottom of the slot, thereby actuating the circuit breaker from a closed circuit position to an open circuit position. The circuit breaker also includes an arc-extinguishing device including a plurality of apertured conductive plates. The moving contact arm includes a probe member extending into the apertures of the plates when the circuit breaker is in a closed circuit position.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A circuit interrupter, comprising:

a pair of separable contacts;
means supporting said separable contacts and operable to actuate said contacts between open and closed positions to interrupt current flow therebetween;
and
a magnetic drive structure comprising a magnetic device comprising a plurality of slotted plates of magnetic material forming an elongated slot having a top and a bottom, said slotted plates being electrically insulated from each other and being spaced apart at unequal intervals to form a plurality of insulating gaps;
said supporting means comprising a contact arm carrying one of said contacts and extending into said slot when said contacts are in a closed circuit position;
the current through said circuit interrupter when in a closed circuit position passing through said contact arm and including a component of current flow in a vertical direction with respect to said slot;
an overcurrent condition through said circuit interrupter above a predetermined value generating magnetic flux in said magnetic device to produce a force acting on said contact arm to separate said contacts.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Current limiting circuit breaker

Life of this patent

Current limiting circuit breaker

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12