Back to results
US 7,023,303 B1Granted
Actuator for auxiliary switch and circuit breaker incorporating the same
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsErik R. Bogdon, Dave E. Little, Dave A. Parks, Dave C. Turner, James A. Trax, Dominic P. Martelli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A U-shaped accessory actuator clip that snaps onto the crossbar of a multipole circuit breaker is integrally molded of a compliant material with a flexible finger that actuates/deactuates an accessory, such as an auxiliary switch, as the contacts of the breaker close and open.
Claims20
A circuit breaker comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of poles each comprising:
- separable contacts each comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, and
- a contact arm assembly comprising a contact arm having the movable contact affixed to a distal end and a carrier pivotally mounting the contact arm for rotation between a closed position in which the movable contact engages the fixed contact and an open position in which the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact;
- a crossbar connecting the contact arm assemblies of the poles together as a moving assembly;
- an operating mechanism coupled to the moving assembly to simultaneously move the contact arms of said poles between the open and closed positions;
- an accessory having a plunger mounted in the housing adjacent to the crossbar;
- and
- an accessory actuator clip secured to and movable with the crossbar and having a finger that engages the plunger to actuate said accessory with the contact arms in one of the open and closed positions and that releases the plunger to deactuate said accessory in the other of the open and closed positions, the finger being complaint to accommodate for variations in travel of the crossbar.
6 more elements
An accessory actuator clip for a circuit breaker including a housing, a plurality of poles each comprising:
- separable contacts each comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, and a contact arm assembly comprising a contact arm having the movable contact affixed to a distal end and a carrier pivotally mounting the contact arm for rotation between a closed position in which the movable contact engages the fixed contact and an open position in which the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact, a crossbar connecting the contact arm assemblies of the poles together as a moving assembly, an operating mechanism coupled to the moving assembly to simultaneously move the contact arms of said poles between the open and closed positions, and an accessory having a plunger mounted in the housing adjacent to the crossbar, said accessory actuator clip comprising:
- a base;
- a pair of legs;
- and
- a finger extending at an angle from the outer surface of one of said legs,
- wherein said accessory actuator clip is structured to secure to and be movable with the crossbar,
- wherein said finger is structured to engage the plunger to actuate said accessory with the contact arms in one of the open and closed positions and to release the plunger to deactuate said accessory in the other of the open and closed positions, and
- wherein said finger is complaint to accommodate for variations in travel of the crossbar.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.