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US 6,259,340 B1Granted
Circuit breaker with a dual test button mechanism
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsKevin Fuhr, Ray Seymour, Doug Tilghman, Brenda Zhang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a dual test mechanism is presented for use in a circuit breaker. More specifically, the dual test mechanism includes a dual test button which comprises a single switch for testing both the AFCI and GFCI circuits of the breaker. The test mechanism includes a circuit board, which forms a part of the circuit breaker, and a test button assembly which includes a test button and signaling components which are electrically connected to the circuit board.
Claims16
A test mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising:
- a circuit board;
- a test button assembly including a test button, the test button including a top portion having first and second cantilevered surfaces, and a bottom portion having a clamp member, the clamp member having a pair of biasing arms pinching a first end of a pivotable conductor to the test button, the pivotable conductor comprising a leaf spring and further comprising a second end, the test button assembly further including signaling components comprising first and second flat conductors which are electrically connected to the circuit board, wherein depressing the first cantilevered surface places the test button in a first position and moves the second end of the pivotable conductor into contact with the second flat conductor to direct a first test signal to the circuit board, and depressing the second cantilevered surface places the test button in a second position and moves the second end of the pivotable conductor into contact with the first flat conductor to direct a second test signal to the circuit board;
- and
- a trip mechanism including a pair of separable contacts, the trip mechanism being electrically connected to the circuit board so that in response to receiving one of the first and second test signals, the circuit board generates a trip signal causing the trip mechanism to separate the pair of separable contacts.
1 more element
A circuit breaker comprising:
- a trip unit including a circuit board;
- a pair of separable contacts for interrupting the flow of current;
- and
- a test mechanism including a test button, the test button including a top portion having first and second cantilevered surfaces, and a bottom portion having a clamp member, the clamp member having a pair of biasing arms pinching a first end of a pivotable conductor to the test button, the pivotable conductor comprising a leaf spring and further comprising a second end, the test button assembly further including signaling components comprising first and second flat conductors, wherein depressing the first cantilevered surface places the test button in a first position and moves the second end of the pivotable conductor into contact with the second flat conductor to direct a first test signal to the circuit board, and depressing the second cantilevered surface places the test button in the second position and moves the second end of the pivotable conductor into contact with the first flat conductor to direct a second test signal to the circuit board, and wherein the circuit board generates a trip signal in response to receiving one of the first and second test signals, the trip signal being delivered to an actuator which causes separation of the contacts.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.