Back to results
US 4,123,734 AGranted
Circuit breaker with improved latch mechanism
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsAlfred E. Maier, Robert H. Hill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three pole molded case circuit breaker including a push-to-trip button, a flux transfer shunt trip mechanism, an undervoltage trip mechanism, and an improved latch mechanism. The latch mechanism comprises a metal trip bar covered with insulating tubing and adapted for translational movement to actuate the latch mechanism and trip the contacts. Contact carrier movement during the tripping operation serves to reset the latch mechanism.
Claims21
A circuit interrupter comprising:
- a center pole unit and a pair of outside pole units, each of said pole units comprising separable contacts and means for supporting said contacts;
- an operating mechanism for moving said contact support means to operate said contacts between open and closed positions, said operating mechanism comprising an arm releasable to effect automatic separation of said contacts;
- a latch mechanism operable upon actuation to release said arm, said latch mechanism comprising:
- a releasable primary latch member cooperating with said arm to maintain said arm in the latched position,
- a movable secondary latch member restraining said primary latch member,
- means for biasing said secondary latch member toward a position restraining said primary latch member,
- a movable trip lever maintaining said secondary latch member in a position restraining said primary latch member, and
- a movable trip bar adapted for translational movement and operable when translated to move said trip lever to release said secondary latch member, said primary latch member, and said arm to effect automatic separation of said contacts;
- an undervoltage release mechanism operable upon actuation to translate said trip bar;
- and
- an overcurrent trip mechanism operable upon actuation to translate said trip bar.
8 more elements
A circuit interrupter, comprising:
- a center pole unit and two outside pole units, each of said pole units comprising separable contacts;
- a molded insulating housing enclosing all of said pole units;
- an operating mechanism for moving said contacts between open and closed positions, said operating mechanism comprising a cradle releasable to effect automatic separation as of said contacts;
- a latch mechanism mounted upon said center pole unit and operable upon actuation to release said cradle, said latch mechanism comprising:
- a releasable latch member cooperating with said cradle to maintain said cradle in the latched position;
- trip lever means for releasing said latch member;
- and
- a movable trip bar adapted to revolve about an axis to operate said trip lever to release said cradle;
- overcurrent trip means mounted upon one of said outside pole units for causing revolving movement of said trip bar upon overcurrent conditions through said interrupter to actuate said latch mechanism and release said cradle to effect automatic separation of said contacts;
- and
- undervoltage trip means mounted upon the other of said outside pole units for causing revolving movement of said trip bar upon undervoltage conditions to said undervoltage trip means to actuate said latch mechanism and release said cradle to effect automatic separation of said contacts.
8 more elements
A multi-pole circuit interrupter, comprising:
- a plurality of pole units each comprising separable contacts;
- a single operating mechanism for moving all of said contacts between open and closed positions, said operating mechanism comprising a cradle releasable to effect automatic separation of said contacts;
- a single latch mechanism operable upon actuation to release said cradle, said latch mechanism comprising:
- a releasable latch member cooperating with said cradle to maintain said cradle in the latched position;
- trip lever means for releasing said latch member;
- and
- a movable trip bar adapted for translational movement to operate said trip lever to release said cradle;
- and
- trip means for causing translational movement of said trip bar to actuate said latch mechanism and release said cradle to effect automatic separation of said contacts.
6 more elements
A multipole circuit interrupter, comprising:
- a plurality of pole units each comprising separable contacts;
- a single operating mechanism adapted for manual operation to move all of said contacts between open and closed positions, said operating mechanism releasable from a latched to a tripped position to effect automatic separation of said contacts;
- a single latch mechanism operable upon actuation to release said operable mechanism, said latch mechanism comprising:
- a releasable latch member cooperating with said operating mechanism to maintain said operating medium in a latched position;
- trip lever means operable upon actuation to release said latch member;
- and
- movable trip bar means independently mounted with respect to said trip lever means for actuating said trip lever means;
- a plurality of electromechanical trip actuator means for initiating separation of said contacts by moving said trip bar means in response to conditions calling for separation of said contacts;
- and
- means linking said operating mechanism to said trip bar means;
- said trip bar means being so disposed in relation to said electromechanical trip actuator means that manual operation of said operating mechanism is operable to move said trip bar means through said linkage means to reset said electromechanical trip actuator.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.