Anti-rebound latch

A self contained modular anti-rebound latch assembly for controlling rebound movement of a blade which is movable through a defined path from a contact closed position to a contact open position in response to blow open forces, said assembly comprising:

• a generally U-shaped housing having a first side leg;
• a second side leg spaced from said first side leg to provide an opening therebetween, and a base connecting said first side leg to said second side leg;
• said blade extending through said opening in a generally perpendicular relationship with said housing adjacent the end of the housing opposite from the base in response to said blade assuming said closed position;
• a drive-arm pivotally carried by said housing, said drive-arm having a kicker portion extending into said opening adjacent said base and a pusher portion at its opposite end;
• a blade catcher carried by said first side leg for reciprocal movement between a first position not protruding into said opening and a second position extending across said opening to said second side leg;
• biasing means for biasing said blade catcher toward said first position;
• and
• pole means carried by said second leg for attracting said blade catcher in response to said blade moving from said closed position to said open position causing said drive arm to drive said blade catcher towards said second position.

An automatic electric circuit breaker having blow-open current limiting design comprising:

• an insulated circuit breaker housing;
• a line terminal;
• a load terminal;
• a pair of separable contacts, at least one of which is carried by a movable contact blade;
• said contact blade being movable through a path to a blow-open position in response to a predetermined overcurrent condition;
• trip means for mechanically moving said contact blade to an open position in which said contacts are separated;
• and
• a self contained modular mechanically and electromagnetically operated anti-rebound latch means for controlling the rebound movement of said blade from said blow-open position to prevent the closing of said contact prior to operation of said trip means to retain said contacts in a separated position, said latch means including a housing;
• a blade catcher carried by said housing and reciprocally movable between a first position outside said path and a second position within said path;
• and biasing means for continuously biasing said catcher toward said first position.

A self contained modular anti-rebound latch assembly for controlling rebound movement of a blade which is movable through a defined path from a contact closed position to a contact open position in response to blow open forces, said assembly comprising:

• a generally U-shaped housing having a first side leg;
• a second side leg spaced from said first side leg to provide an opening therebetween, and a base connecting said first side leg to said second side leg;
• said blade extending through said opening in a generally perpendicular relationship with said housing adjacent the end of the housing opposite from the base in response to said blade assuming said closed position;
• a drive-arm pivotally carried by said housing, said drive-arm having a kicker portion extending into said opening adjacent said base and a pusher portion at its opposite end;
• a blade catcher carried by said first side leg for reciprocal movement between a first position not protruding into said opening and a second position extending across said opening to said second side leg;
• biasing means for biasing said blade catcher toward said first position;
• and
• delay means for delaying return movement of said blade catcher from said second position to said first position.