Earth leakage circuit breaker assembly

An earth leakage detection unit for a circuit breaker assembly including a circuit breaker unit having a pair of cooperating contacts one of which is movable relative to the other contact for providing AC power from a power source to a load, a trip mechanism for opening the contacts;

• and a handle for "opening" and "closing" the contacts of the circuit breaker, said earth leakage detection unit comprising:
• a solenoid for actuating the trip mechanism in response to a fault condition;
• a current transformer for providing an output signal representative of a current imbalance between a power lead and a neutral lead from the AC power source that pass therethrough;
• a detection circuit for providing an output signal representative of a current imbalance between the leads;
• a means for providing said output signal when said current imbalance is greater than a predetermined level;
• and
• a switching circuit for activating said solenoid in response to said output signal for a limited time period to enable high voltage AC power to energize said solenoid.

A trip mechanism for tripping at least one circuit breaker unit of a circuit breaker assembly, the unit having a pair of cooperating contacts one of which is movable relative to the other contact by a toggle mechanism, a tripping device responsive to current fault conditions to release the toggle mechanism, and a latch means for preventing said toggle mechanism from functioning;

• and a handle for actuating the toggle mechanism of the circuit breaker for "opening" and "closing" the contacts, the trip mechanism comprising:
• a trip member of U-shape for the circuit breaker unit, said trip member having two legs interconnected by a cross member at one end of said legs, said cross member having an engagement means, one leg having a depending member for engaging the toggle mechanism, said trip member being pivotally attached to the toggle mechanism at the other end portions of said legs,
• an elongated bar extending from said engagement means of said trip member;
• and
• an actuation means for engaging said bar to pivot said trip member to disable the toggle mechanism in response to a fault condition.

A circuit breaker assembly for providing AC power from a power source to a load;

• the circuit breaker assembly comprising:
• a toggle mechanism;
• a plurality of circuit breaker units, each unit including:
• a pair of cooperating contacts one of which is movable relative to the other contact by said toggle mechanism,
• a tripping device responsive to current fault conditions to release the toggle mechanism, and
• a latch means for preventing said toggle mechanism from functioning;
• a handle for actuating the toggle mechanisms of each of the circuit breakers for "opening" and "closing" the contacts,
• a common trip mechanism comprising:
• a trip member of U-shape for each circuit breaker unit, each of said trip members having two legs interconnected by a cross member at one end of said legs, said cross member having an engagement means, one leg having a depending member for engaging the toggle mechanism, each trip member being pivotally attached to the toggle mechanism device at the other end portions of said legs, and,
• an elongated bar extending from said engagement means of each of said common trip members;
• and
• an actuation means for engaging said bar to rotate simultaneously each of said common trip members to disable each of the toggle mechanisms in response to a fault condition.

A retaining device for securing a pair of terminals within a circuit breaker;

• the terminals having a pair of substantially parallel contact surfaces spaced a predetermined distance apart;
• the circuit breaker having an opening in its casing adjacent the terminals;
• said retaining device comprising:
• a base;
• a post extending from an upper surface of said base;
• a pair of diametrically opposed fins extending from said post;
• each fin including an outer surface;
• said outer surfaces being spaced apart for engaging the contact surfaces of the terminals for securing the terminals to the circuit breaker;
• and
• a locking means for securing the retaining device to the circuit breaker.

An earth leakage detection unit for a circuit breaker assembly including a circuit breaker unit having a pair of cooperating contacts one of which is movable relative to the other contact for providing AC power from a power source to a load, a trip mechanism for opening the contacts;

• and a handle for "opening" and "closing" the contacts of the circuit breaker, said earth leakage detection unit comprising:
• a solenoid for actuating the trip mechanism in response to a fault condition;
• a current transformer for providing an output signal representative of the current imbalance between a power lead and a neutral lead from the AC power source that pass therethrough;
• a detection circuit for providing an output signal representative of a current imbalance between the leads;
• and
• a switching circuit for activating said solenoid in response to said output signal for a limited time period to enable high voltage AC power to energize said solenoid, said switching circuit including a means for providing an output signal when the current imbalance is greater than a predetermined value, said output signal periodically energizing said current source, whereby said solenoid is periodically energized.