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US 6,310,307 B1Granted
Circuit breaker rotary contact arm arrangement
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRonald Ciarcia, Lei Zhang Schlitz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary contact arrangement for circuit breakers of the type including a pair of movable contacts (30,36), one arranged on each end of the rotary contact arm (32), utilizes a single pair of contact springs (38), one spring on each side of the rotary contact arm (32). The springs (38) are aligned to intersect the axis of rotation of the rotary contact arm (32) for automatic uniform contact force adjustment throughout the operating life of the circuit breaker.
Claims14
A circuit breaker rotary contact arrangement comprising:
- a rotor defining first and second opposing sides thereon, said rotor including first and second pin retainer slots formed on said first side;
- a movable contact arm intermediate said first and second sides, said movable contact arm defining a first movable contact at one end arranged opposite an opposing first fixed contact and a second movable contact at an end opposite said one end arranged proximate a second fixed contact;
- a pivot pin arranged on a central portion of said movable contact arm, said pivot pin extending within an aperture formed on a central portion of said rotor for allowing rotation of said movable contact arm with respect to said rotor;
- first and second links pivotally secured to a first side of said movable contact arm;
- a first spring pin extending from said first link and through said first pin retainer slot;
- a second spring pin extending from said second link and through said second pin retainer slot;
- and
- a first spring proximate said first side and extending from said first spring pin to said second spring pin, said first spring exerting a first spring force directed to intersect an axis of rotation of said pivot pin, said first spring force for urging said first movable contact toward said first fixed contact and said second movable contact toward said second fixed contact.
5 more elements
A circuit breaker assembly comprising:
- a line-side contact strap arranged for connection with an electric circuit, said line-side contact strap including a first fixed contact connected to said line-side contact strap;
- a load-side contact strap arranged for connecting with associated electrical equipment, said load-side contact strap including a second fixed contact connected to said load-side contact strap;
- first and second arc chutes, said first arc chute proximate said line-side contact strap and said second arc chute proximate said load-side contact strap for quenching arcs occurring upon overcurrent transfer between said line and load-side contact straps;
- and
- a rotary contact assembly disposed between said line and load-side contact straps and said first and second arc chutes, said rotary contact assembly including:
- a rotor defining first and second opposing sides thereon, said rotor including first and second pin retainer slots formed on said first side,
- a movable contact arm intermediate said first and second sides, said movable contact arm defining a first movable contact at one end arranged opposite said first fixed contact and a second movable contact at an end opposite said one end arranged proximate said second fixed contact,
- a pivot pin arranged on a central portion of said movable contact arm, said pivot pin extending within an aperture formed on a central portion of said rotor for allowing rotation of said movable contact arm with respect to said rotor,
- first and second links pivotally secured to a first side of said movable contact arm,
- a first spring pin extending from said first link and through said first pin retainer slot,
- a second spring pin extending from said second link and through said second pin retainer slot;
- and
- a first spring proximate said first side and extending from said first spring pin to said second spring pin, said first spring exerting a first spring force directed to intersect an axis of rotation of said pivot pin, said first spring force for urging said first movable contact toward said first fixed contact and said second movable contact toward said second fixed contact.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.