Molded case circuit breaker insulated armature latch arrangement
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMario A. Tacinelli, Joseph M. Palmieri, Joseph B. Kelaita, Jr., Eva E. Matias
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric circuit breaker operating mechanism includes an insulated armature latch which prevents deleterious arc formation between the operating mechanism cradle and the armature latch surface when the circuit breaker contacts are separated under overcurrent circuit conditions. The insulated armature latch carries a tolerance take-up spring which interacts between the operating mechanism cradle and the circuit breaker trip bar assembly to insure free travel of the operating cradle during contact separation.
Claims9
A molded case circuit breaker having an integrated armature latch assembly comprising:
- a molded plastic case attached to a molded plastic cover;
- an operating mechanism arranged within said case for interrupting current through a protected circuit upon the occurrence of an overcurrent condition;
- a pivotally-mounted operating cradle interacting with said operating mechanism by means of a shaped end;
- and
- a magnetically-responsive armature latch comprising a metal plate including a first rectangular opening, an insulative plate including a second rectangular opening fastened to said metal plate and a tolerance take-up spring having a top part within said first rectangular opening interacting with a trip bar carrier and a bottom part within said second rectangular opening supporting said shaped end of said operating cradle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.