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US 4,736,174 AGranted
Molded case circuit breaker operating mechanism
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRoger N. Castonguay, David J. Meiners
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit breaker operating mechanism for automated assembly finds application within circuit breakers of different ampere ratings. The circuit breaker contacts are opened and closed by means of a roller connected to the circuit breaker operating handle through a cradle link and a cam arranged on the movable contact carrier. The operating springs, cradle and latch are first assembled to the operating mechanism prior to assembly of the operating mechanism within the breaker housing.
Claims15
A molded case circuit breaker comprising:
- an insulated case;
- a first contact within said case attached to one end of a movable contact carrier, an opposite end of said movable contact carrier being electrically connected with a load strap;
- a second contact within said case electrically connected with a line strap;
- a trip unit proximate said load strap for sensing electric current through said contacts and responding to an overcurrent condition through said contacts;
- and
- a spring-biased operating mechanism operatively connected with said movable contact carrier and a latch assembly for moving said movable contact carrier and said first contact away from said second contact to interrupt said electric current upon occurrence of said overcurrent condition;
- said latch assembly comprising a sideframe support member having a secondary latch member pivotally attached at a top thereof and a primary latch member pivotally attached to said sideframe member under said secondary latch member, said secondary latch member having a detent integrally formed therein and interfering with rotational motion of said primary latch member, said primary latch member having an opening with a tab member under said opening extending toward said operating mechanism, whereby an end of a cradle pivotally attached within said operating mechanism extends through said primary latch opening and engages an edge of said opening to hold said cradle from rotating against said operating mechanism spring bias until said secondary latch is contacted by said trip unit to displace said secondary latch detent from said primary latch.
4 more elements
A molded case circuit breaker comprising:
- an insulated case;
- a first contact within said case attached to one end of a movable contact carrier, an opposite end of said movable contact carrier being electrically connected with a load strap;
- a second contact within said case electrically connected with a line strap;
- a trip unit proximate said load strap for sensing electric current through said contacts and for responding to an overcurrent condition through said contacts;
- a spring-biased operating mechanism operatively connected with said movable contact carrier and a latch assembly for moving said movable contact carrier and said first contact away from said second contact to interrupt said electric current upon occurrence of said overcurrent condition;
- a cradle assembly within said operating mechanism comprising a pair of shaped links hingeably attached together and to a cradle member at one end by a first pin, said cradle being arranged intermediate said links and also being hingeably attached to a support frame;
- and
- a roller member arranged intermediate said links and attached to said links by a second pin interconnecting said links at a second end of said links opposite said first pin, said roller member being captured within a slotted cam member attached to said movable contact carrier whereby said operating mechanism rotates said movable contact carrier and said first contact away from said second contact to an open position under said spring bias upon occurrence of said overcurrent condition through said contacts.
5 more elements
A molded case circuit breaker comprising:
- an insulated case;
- a first contact within said case attached to one end of a movable contact carrier, an opposite end of said movable contact carrier being electrically connected with a load strap;
- a second contact within said case electrically connected with a line strap;
- a trip unit proximate said load strap for sensing electric current through said contacts and for responding to an overcurrent condition through said contacts;
- a spring-biased operating mechanism operatively connected with said movable contact carrier and a latch assembly for moving said movable contact carrier and said attached first contact away from said second contact to interrupt said electric current upon occurrence of said overcurrent condition, said operating mechanism including a support member having a pair of sideframes joined by a planar apertured back member and a cradle assembly consisting of a pair of links pivotally attached together and to a rotatable cradle member, said rotatable cradle member being also pivotally attached to a support plate secured to said back member;
- a roller positioned within said links and arranged within a slotted cam connected with said movable contact carrier to move said movable contact carrier and said first contact away from said second contact under said spring bias;
- and
- a handle operator yoke pivotally supported on said pair of sideframes and carrying a pair of operating springs to provide said spring bias, one on each side of said yoke, one end of said springs being retained in slots formed within said yoke and an other end of said springs being retained by a pin through said roller.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.