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US 5,392,016 AGranted
Molded case circuit breaker mechanical rating plug
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDavid Arnold, Roger N. Castonguay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molded case circuit breaker having a thermal-magnetic trip unit is provided with a mechanical rating plug to allow a number of circuit breakers of different ampere ratings to be used within a common-sized enclosure. Multiple mechanical rating plugs are stored at the place of distribution to adapt the common enclosure to a specific ampere rating at a substantial savings in time, labor and materials.
Claims14
A rating plug assembly for thermal-magnetic circuit breakers comprising:
- a slide plate arranged for translation within a first recess formed within a circuit breaker case;
- a post upstanding from one end of said slide plate and arranged for contacting a rating plug spacer-extension on a forward side and for contacting a bias spring on a rear side thereof;
- a trip bar within said first recess interacting with a spacer-extension having a predetermined width and length, said trip bar interacting with said slide plate and a circuit breaker latch for articulating the circuit breaker latch when displaced by a circuit breaker bimetal unit under overcurrent circuit conditions.
A thermal-magnetic circuit breaker having a field-installable rating plug for setting the circuit breaker ampere ratings comprising:
- a circuit breaker cover attached to a circuit breaker case;
- an operating mechanism arranged within said case for interrupting circuit current upon the occurrence of an overcurrent condition;
- a latch restraining said operating mechanism from interrupting circuit current under quiescent circuit conditions;
- a rating plug support member adapted to be received partially within said cover;
- and
- a spacer-extension depending from a bottom surface of said support and adapted to be received within said case, said spacer-extension having a predetermined width and length,
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.