US 5,515,018 A · Pivoting circuit breaker load terminal

Abstract

An improved circuit breaker with moving line and load contacts is disclosed herein. The circuit breaker includes an enclosure for the operational components thereof including a line contact arm and associated contact for each phase of the circuit breaker, and an operating mechanism supported within the enclosure to move the contact arm(s) between open and closed positions. The circuit breaker also includes a terminal for each phase pivotally supported within the enclosure, and a load contact arm and associated contact for each phase pivotally connected to the terminal. The contact arms are supported so the contacts are engaged when the line contact arms are in the closed positions. The pivoted load terminal(s) allow the use of multiple connector types with the terminal(s), and the pivoting connection between the load contact arm and associated terminal facilitates a reduction in circuit breaker size for a given rating.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electric switch comprising:

an enclosure;
a first contact moveable between first and second positions within the enclosure;
an operating mechanism supported by the enclosure and coupled to the first contact to move the first contact between positions;
a terminal pivotally supported by the enclosure and exposed to the exterior of the enclosure;
and
a second contact arm including a second contact, and pivotally and electrically connected to the terminal at the interior of the enclosure, the first contact engaging the second contact when the first contact is in the first position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pivoting circuit breaker load terminal

Life of this patent

Pivoting circuit breaker load terminal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20