Electrical switching apparatus and trip assembly therefor
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsKameron James Kline, Mark Janusek, Jack Edward Devine, David Turner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trip assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus has a housing, an electrical communication assembly coupled to the housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The trip assembly includes an actuating element structured to be coupled to the housing and structured to be electrically connected to the electrical communication assembly; and an indication assembly cooperating with the actuating element in order to electrically communicate a circuit status to the electrical communication assembly.
Claims14
A trip assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus comprising a housing, an electrical communication assembly coupled to said housing, separable contacts enclosed by said housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said trip assembly comprising:
- an actuating element structured to be coupled to said housing and structured to be electrically connected to said electrical communication assembly, and
- an indication assembly cooperating with said actuating element in order to electrically communicate a circuit status to said electrical communication assembly,
- wherein said indication assembly comprises a plunger member and a number of auxiliary switches each structured to be coupled to said housing;
- and wherein said plunger member is structured to actuate each of said number of auxiliary switches, thereby electrically communicating the circuit status to said electrical communication assembly.
A trip assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus comprising a housing, a reset assembly coupled to said housing, separable contacts enclosed by said housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said trip assembly comprising:
- an actuating element structured to be coupled to said housing;
- and
- a trip cam structured to cooperate with said reset assembly in order to reset said actuating element,
- wherein said trip cam comprises a reset leg;
- wherein said reset leg is structured to cooperate with said reset assembly in order to reset said actuating element;
- wherein said trip cam further comprises a transfer leg and a driving leg;
- wherein said transfer leg is structured to be driven by said actuating element, wherein, responsive to said transfer leg being driven by said actuating element, said driving leg is structured to cooperate with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts;
- wherein said trip cam further comprises a first recessed retaining portion and a second recessed retaining portion disposed opposite and distal from said first recessed retaining portion;
- wherein said driving leg extends from said first recessed retaining portion;
- wherein said reset leg extends from said second recessed retaining portion;
- wherein said transfer leg is disposed between said reset leg and said driving leg;
- and wherein said transfer leg is spaced from each of said first recessed retaining portion and said second recessed retaining portion.
An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- an electrical communication assembly coupled to said housing;
- separable contacts enclosed by the housing;
- an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts;
- and
- a trip assembly comprising:
- an actuating element coupled to said housing and electrically connected to said electrical communication assembly, and
- an indication assembly cooperating with said actuating element in order to electrically communicate a circuit status to said electrical communication assembly,
- wherein said indication assembly comprises a plunger member and a number of auxiliary switches each coupled to said housing;
- and wherein said plunger member is structured to actuate each of said number of auxiliary switches, thereby electrically communicating the circuit status to said electrical communication assembly.
An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a reset assembly coupled to said housing;
- separable contacts enclosed by said housing;
- an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts;
- and
- a trip assembly comprising:
- an actuating element coupled to said housing, and
- a trip cam structured to cooperate with said reset assembly in order to reset said actuating element,
- wherein said trip cam comprises a reset leg;
- wherein said reset leg cooperates with said reset assembly in order to reset said actuating element;
- wherein said trip cam further comprises a transfer leg and a driving leg;
- wherein said transfer leg is structured to be driven by said actuating element, wherein, responsive to said transfer leg being driven by said actuating element, said driving leg cooperates with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts;
- wherein said trip cam further comprises a first recessed retaining portion and a second recessed retaining portion disposed opposite and distal from said first recessed retaining portion, wherein said driving leg extends from said first recessed retaining portion;
- wherein said reset leg extends from said second recessed retaining portion;
- wherein said transfer leg is disposed between said reset leg and said driving leg;
- and wherein said transfer leg is spaced from each of said first recessed retaining portion and said second recessed retaining portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.