Interface connection for a circuit breaker plug-in trip unit
AssigneeSiemans Energy & Automation, Inc.
InventorsBernard Dimarco, David A. Leone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit breaker including a sliding connection between a trip unit and associated contact arm is disclosed herein. The sliding connection facilitates assembly of the circuit breaker and also permits a reduction of size for a circuit breaker of a given rating. An embodiment of the sliding connection includes a blade and jaw assembly connected between the trip unit and contact arm. Another embodiment of the sliding connection includes a blade or jaw assembly slidably connected directly to the contact arm.
Claims23
A circuit breaker of the type including a frame, at least one pivot coupled to the frame, at least one moving contact arm pivotally mounted on the pivot, and a trip unit, the circuit breaker comprising at least one blade and jaw connection electrically coupled between the pivot and the trip unit, wherein the blade is slidably engageable with the jaw to permit electrical engagement and disengagement between the trip unit and contact arm, the contact arm remaining pivotally mounted on the pivot while the trip unit is engaged and disengaged, and one of a line and a load terminal electrically coupled to the trip unit.
A circuit breaker of the type including a trip unit, one of a line and a load terminal electrically coupled to the trip unit, and at least one moving contact arm pivotally connected to a shaft within the circuit breaker, the circuit breaker comprising a first blade electrically coupled to the trip unit, engaged with the shaft and slidably connected to the contact arm to engage and disengage electrically the trip unit to the contact arm, the contact arm remaining pivotally connected to the shaft while the trip unit is engaged and disengaged.
A circuit breaker comprising:
- a circuit breaker frame;
- contact arm operating mechanism supported by the frame;
- a contact arm, adapted for carrying a current, pivotally supported by a shaft supported by the frame, the contact arm being mechanically coupled to the operating mechanism wherein the operating mechanism is configured to move the contact arm between an open position and a closed position;
- a trip unit configured to activate the operating mechanism to move the contact arm to the open position if the current flowing through the contact arm exceeds a limit;
- a contact arm pivotally supported by a shaft supported by the frame, the contact arm being mechanically coupled to the operating mechanism wherein the operating mechanism is configured to move the contact arm between an open position and a closed position;
- a trip unit configured to activate the operating mechanism to move the contact arm to the open position if the current flowing through the contact arm exceeds a predetermined limit;
- one of a line terminal and a load terminal electrically coupled to the trip unit;
- a first generally flat surface in electrical communication with the contact arm;
- and
- a second generally flat surface in electrical communication with the trip unit;
- the respective flat surfaces being engageable and disengageable, the contact arm remaining supported by the shaft during said engagement and disengagement, in order to conduct electricity selectively between the contact arm and the trip unit.
A circuit breaker comprising:
- circuit breaker frame;
- line and load terminals coupled to the frame;
- a first contact coupled to one of the line and load terminals;
- a moving contact assembly restrained within the frame, including a moving contact arm pivotally mounted thereon for selective electrical contact with the first contact;
- and
- a trip unit, coupled to the other of the line and load terminals, selectively engageable and disengageable with the moving contact assembly, the moving contact arm remaining mounted on the assembly while the trip unit is engaged and disengaged.
A circuit breaker comprising:
- a circuit breaker frame;
- a contact arm operating mechanism supported by the frame;
- line and load terminals coupled to the frame;
- a first contact coupled to one of the line and load terminals;
- a contact arm, adapted for carrying a current for selective electrical contact with the first contact, the arm pivotally supported by a shaft that is in turn supported by the frame, the contact arm being mechanically coupled to the operating mechanism, wherein the operating mechanism is configured to move the contact arm between an opened position and a closed position in contact with the first contact;
- a trip unit coupled to the other of the line and load terminals, configured to activate the operating mechanism to move the contact arm to the open position if the current flowing through the contact arm exceeds a limit, the trip unit having a housing and a first blade mechanically supported by the housing that includes a first generally flat surface;
- a second generally flat surface integral with the contact arm and a third generally flat surface of the contact arm that is oriented generally parallel and in a spaced relationship with the second flat surface, the first and second flat surfaces being slidably engaged when the first blade is interposed between the second and third flat surfaces and engaged with the shaft, in order to conduct electricity between the contact arm and the trip unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.