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US 6,020,801 AGranted
Trip mechanism for an overload relay
AssigneeSiemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
InventorChristian Henry Passow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Simplicity and reliability in a trip mechanism for an overload relay is achieved in a construction including a housing containing a bistable armature mounted on a pivot for movement between two stable positions. Fixed contacts are located within the housing and moveable contacts are carried by the armature for movement to a closed position with the fixed contacts for one of the two stable positions and for movement to an open position relative to the fixed contacts for the other of the two stable positions. A latch arm is carried by the armature and has a latch surface thereon. A torsion spring is mounted on the housing and has a latch finger for engaging the latch surface and retaining the armature in one of the two positions. A push button is provided for disabling the latch finger.
Claims12
An overload relay comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each adapted to be associated with a respective phase input to a multiple phase load to be monitored, for providing a signal representative of the current to the respective phase input;
- an overload determining circuit connected to said sensors to receive said signal and operative in response thereto to provide at least an overload indicating signal in response to a determination that an overload exists;
- and
- a trip mechanism responsive to said overload signal and adapted to be connected in controlling relation to a contactor in series with the multiple phase load to be monitored and further adapted to cause said contactor to interrupt power flowing to the multiple phase load to be monitored when said overload indicating signal is received, said trip mechanism including a bi-stable armature mounted on a pivot for pivotal movement between two stable positions, fixed contacts within said trip mechanism, moveable contacts operated by said armature for movement to a closed position with said fixed contacts for one of said two positions and for movement to an open position relative to said fixed contacts for the other of said two positions, said contacts being adapted to be placed in series with said contactor, a latch surface on one of said armature and said trip mechanism, a spring mounted on the other of said armature and said trip mechanism and having a latch finger for engaging and retaining said armature in said other of said two positions;
- and
- an electrical winding connected to said overload determining circuit to receive said overload indicating signal therefrom and magnetically coupled to said armature for moving said armature from said one position to said other position when said overload indicating signal is received.
3 more elements
An overload relay comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each adapted to be associated with a respective phase input to a multiple phase load to be monitored, for providing a signal representative of the current to the respective phase input;
- an overload determining circuit connected to said sensors to receive said signal and operative in response thereto to provide at least an overload indicating signal in response to a determination that an overload exists;
- a post extending from one side of said armature at a location spaced from said pivot;
- a fulcrum on said post;
- an elongated contact bar mounted intermediate its ends on said post;
- a spring carried by said armature and biasing said contact bar against said fulcrum;
- a pair of spaced, fixed contacts positioned to be bridged by said contact bar for one of said two positions and spaced from said contact bar for the other of said two positions;
- and
- a contact leveling rib for engaging said contact bar when said armature is in said other of said two positions;
- said contacts being adapted to be connected in series with a contactor in series with the multiple phase load to be monitored.
7 more elements
An overload relay comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each adapted to be associated with a respective phase input to a multiple phase load to be monitored, for providing a signal representative of the current to the respective phase input;
- an overload determining circuit connected to said sensors to receive said signal and operative in response thereto to provide at least an overload indicating signal in response to a determination that an overload exists;
- and
- a housing containing said armature;
- fixed contacts in said housing;
- movable contacts operated by said armature for movement toward and away from said fixed contacts;
- a moveable lever associated with said armature and operable to shift said armature from at least one of said two positions to the other of said two positions;
- an operator for said lever including an element movable toward and away from said lever;
- a spring finger carried at angle extending therefrom toward the one of said lever and said operator;
- and
- a stop surface on the other of said lever and said operator positioned to be engaged by said spring finger when said armature is in said one position and said operator is moved toward said lever and to disengage and release said spring finger when said armature has moved to the other of said two positions.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.