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 includes 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 has an indication assembly including a plunger member and a number of auxiliary switches each structured to be coupled to the housing. The plunger member is structured to actuate each of the number of auxiliary switches, thereby electrically communicating a circuit status to the electrical communication assembly.
Claims16
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 indication assembly comprising a plunger member and a number of auxiliary switches each structured to be coupled to said housing,
- wherein said plunger member is structured to actuate each of said number of auxiliary switches, thereby electrically communicating a circuit status to said electrical communication assembly;
- wherein said plunger member comprises a planar portion and a cylindrical-shaped receiving portion disposed adjacent and perpendicular the planar portion;
- wherein said indication assembly further comprises a biasing element disposed in the receiving portion;
- wherein said biasing element engages the planar portion in order to bias said plunger member away from each of said number of auxiliary switches;
- wherein said trip assembly further comprises a first mounting member and a second mounting member coupled to said first mounting member by a snap-fit mechanism;
- wherein each of said first mounting member and said second mounting member is structured to be coupled to said housing;
- and wherein each of said plunger member, said biasing element, and said number of auxiliary switches is contained by each of said first mounting member and said second mounting member.
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 indication assembly comprising a plunger member and a number of auxiliary switches each structured to be coupled to said housing,
- wherein said plunger member is structured to actuate each of said number of auxiliary switches, thereby electrically communicating a circuit status to said electrical communication assembly;
- wherein said trip assembly further comprises a mounting member structured to be coupled to said housing;
- wherein said number of auxiliary switches comprises a first auxiliary switch and a second auxiliary switch;
- wherein said first auxiliary switch is coupled to said mounting member;
- wherein said second auxiliary switch comprises a first contact strip and a second contact strip;
- wherein said first contact strip is connected to said plunger member;
- wherein said second contact strip is electrically connected to said electrical communication assembly;
- wherein said operating mechanism comprises a crossbar;
- wherein said crossbar is structured to drive said plunger member into said first auxiliary switch;
- and wherein, when said plunger member is driven into said first auxiliary switch, said first contact strip moves away from said second contact strip, 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, 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 indication assembly comprising a plunger member and a number of auxiliary switches each structured to be coupled to said housing,
- wherein said plunger member is structured to actuate each of said number of auxiliary switches, thereby electrically communicating a circuit status to said electrical communication assembly;
- wherein said electrical switching apparatus further comprises a reset assembly coupled to said housing, wherein said trip assembly further comprises a trip cam structured to cooperate with said reset assembly;
- and wherein said trip cam comprises a driving leg structured to cooperate with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts.
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 indication assembly comprising a plunger member and a number of auxiliary switches each coupled to said housing,
- wherein said plunger member is structured to actuate each of said number of auxiliary switches, thereby electrically communicating a circuit status to said electrical communication assembly;
- wherein said electrical switching apparatus further comprises a reset assembly coupled to said housing, wherein said trip assembly further comprises a trip cam structured to cooperate with said reset assembly;
- and wherein said trip cam comprises a driving leg structured to cooperate with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts.
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 indication assembly comprising a plunger member and a number of auxiliary switches each structured to be coupled to said housing,
- wherein said plunger member is structured to actuate each of said number of auxiliary switches, thereby electrically communicating a circuit status to said electrical communication assembly;
- wherein said trip assembly further comprises a first mounting member and a second mounting member coupled to said first mounting member by a snap-fit mechanism;
- wherein each of said first mounting member and said second mounting member is structured to be coupled to said housing;
- and wherein each of said plunger member and said number of auxiliary switches is contained by each of said first mounting member and said second mounting member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.