US 5,705,968 A · Trip bar with adjustable latch load for electrical switching apparatus

Abstract

A circuit breaker includes a housing; separable contacts housed by the housing; an operating mechanism, for moving the separable contacts between a closed position and an open position thereof, having a first position and a second position corresponding to the open position; a latching and releasing mechanism for latching the operating mechanism in the first position thereof and for releasing the operating mechanism to the second position thereof; a rotatable trip bar rotatable in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction for unlatching the latching and releasing mechanism; a sensing mechanism for sensing an electrical condition associated with the separable contacts and for moving the trip bar in the second rotational direction in order to unlatch the latching and releasing mechanism, release the operating mechanism to the second position thereof, and move the separable contacts to the open position thereof; and an adjustable bias spring for biasing the trip bar in the first rotational direction.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

housing means;
separable contact means housed by said housing means and moveable between a closed position and an open position;
operating means for moving said separable contact means between the closed position and the open position thereof, said operating means having a first position and a second position corresponding to the open position of said separable contact means;
means for latching said operating means in the first position thereof and for releasing said operating means to the second position thereof;
trip bar means movable in a first direction and a second direction for unlatching said means for latching;
means for sensing an electrical condition associated with said separable contact means and for moving said trip bar means in the second direction in order to unlatch said means for latching, release said operating means to the second position thereof, and move said separable contact means to the open position thereof;
and
adjustable bias means for biasing said trip bar means in the first direction.

5 more elements

A circuit interrupter apparatus comprising:

housing means;
separable contact means housed by said housing means and moveable between a closed position and an open position;
operating means for moving said separable contact means between the closed position and the open position thereof, said operating means having a first position and a second position corresponding to the open position of said separable contact means;
latch means for latching said operating means in the first position thereof and for releasing said operating means to the second position thereof;
trip bar means rotatable in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction for unlatching said latch means;
means for sensing an electrical condition associated with said separable contact means and for rotating said trip bar means in the second rotational direction in order to unlatch said latch means, release said operating means to the second position thereof, and move said separable contact means to the open position thereof;
and
adjustable bias means for biasing said trip bar means in the first rotational direction.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Trip bar with adjustable latch load for electrical switching apparatus

Life of this patent

Trip bar with adjustable latch load for electrical switching apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20