US 6,400,242 B1 · High current auxiliary switch for a circuit breaker

Abstract

An auxiliary switch for a circuit breaker of the split case type. The switch is capable of switching the rated interrupt current capacity of the breaker and is fitted in to the circuit breaker case so that the overall width is substantially equal to or less than the overall width of the circuit breaker. Several embodiments of the auxiliary switch disclose various features which contribute to increasing the interrupt current rating and/or down sizing the width of the auxiliary switch. Among them are: an early make, late break of the auxiliary contacts compared to the circuit breaker contacts; an inertia dampening fly wheel attached to the actuator of the switch to enhance the early make/late break feature; a wiping action between the moveable and stationary contacts of the auxiliary switch to clean off welding and debris deposited from arcing; dual auxiliary contacts to enhance the contact area with little impact on package size and width; and a positioning of the auxiliary actuator on the contact lever of the circuit breaker to prevent the spring forces acting on the actuator from affecting circuit breaker contact pressure.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A circuit breaker assembly comprising:

a circuit breaker having a predetermined rated interrupt current capacity, the circuit breaker including a movable contact lever having a circuit breaker moveable contact disposed thereon, the contact lever having an open position and a closed position;
and
an auxiliary switch including,
a switch housing (28) mounted in an opening defined by the circuit breaker,
an auxiliary actuator moveably mounted within the switch housing, an upper portion of the auxiliary actuator protruding into the opening of the circuit breaker from the switch housing,
an auxiliary moveable contact member having an auxiliary moveable contact disposed thereon, the member moveably mounted to the auxiliary actuator,
a contact spring acting between the auxiliary actuator and the auxiliary moveable contact member,
an auxiliary stationary contact arranged in the switch housing for engagement with the auxiliary moveable contact, and a return spring disposed between the switch housing and the auxiliary actuator urging the auxiliary stationary and moveable contacts apart, wherein the auxiliary switch is adapted to switch substantially the rated interrupt current of the circuit breaker through the moveable and stationary auxiliary contacts when the moveable contact lever of the circuit breaker moves from the open position to the close position, thereby depressing the auxiliary actuator to have the auxiliary moveable contact make contact with the auxiliary stationary contact.

5 more elements

An auxiliary switch in a circuit breaker having a predetermined rated interrupt current capacity, the circuit breaker including a movable contact lever having a circuit breaker moveable contact disposed thereon, the contact lever having an open position and a closed position, the circuit breaker also including an opening for receiving an auxiliary switch, the auxiliary switch comprising;

a switch housing adapted to be mounted in a circuit breaker opening;
an auxiliary actuator moveably mounted within the switch housing and having an upper portion arranged to protrude into an opening of a circuit breaker from the switch housing;
an auxiliary moveable contact member having an auxiliary moveable contact disposed thereon, the member moveably mounted to the auxiliary actuator;
a contact spring acting between the auxiliary actuator and the auxiliary moveable contact member;
an auxiliary stationary contact arranged in the switch housing for engagement with the auxiliary moveable contact;
and
a return spring disposed between the switch housing and the auxiliary actuator urging the auxiliary stationary and auxiliary moveable contacts apart;
wherein the auxiliary switch switches substantially the rated interrupt current of a circuit breaker through the auxiliary moveable and auxiliary stationary contacts;
and wherein the auxiliary actuator moves in response to movement of the moveable contact of the circuit breaker from an open to a closed position to bring the auxiliary moveable contact into contact with the auxiliary stationary contact;
wherein the moveable auxiliary contact moves toward the stationary auxiliary contact before making contact, and moves laterally across the auxiliary contact after making contact to provide a wiping action.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

High current auxiliary switch for a circuit breaker

Life of this patent

High current auxiliary switch for a circuit breaker

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14