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AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsStephen Albert Mrenna, Edward Ethber Lias, Jr., Michael Joseph Erb
Estimating the term…
A bypass conductor is provided for use in a miniature type circuit breaker. In one embodiment, the bypass conductor can include an elongated flat strap positioned in a circuit breaker housing. A first end of the bypass conductor is positioned to be adjacent to a contact arm in an open circuit position of the circuit breaker to receive current flow, especially high transient current flow. A second end of the bypass conductor is electrically coupled and/or mechanically connected to a load terminal of the circuit breaker to provide a path for current between the first and second ends. In this manner, the bypass conductor provides an alternate path for electrical current through the circuit breaker. The bi-metallic components and other sensitive elements within the circuit breaker can therefore resist the loss of useful life and other adverse operational effects caused by a high transient current event.
In a circuit breaker having an insulated base, a contact arm, and a thermal magnetic trip circuit in series with a load terminal, a bypass conductor comprising:
A circuit breaker comprising:
A method for redirecting at least a portion of a high transient current away from bi-metallic components in a circuit breaker having a contact arm and a load terminal comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.