Patent US3582591A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3582591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Quick-opening and quick-closing circuit breaker with toggle action, and a concentric double shaft
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1968-05-08
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1988-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A quick-opening and quick-closing circuit breaker is provided having a high-speed operating mechanism including a closing spring and an opening spring. A crank arm operator is provided to tension both the closing and opening springs, so that by the rotation of a driving crank mechanism, a charging of the closing spring and a simultaneous charging of the opening spring takes place. Upon the attainment of a one-half revolution of the driving rotatable operator, the opening spring is tensioned and latched, and the closing spring is permitted to contract and quickly effect closing of the operating mechanism, while at the same time maintaining the latched condition of the charged opening spring. Tipping means is provided for releasing the latching of the charged opening spring, either by manual or electrical tripping, and upon the actuation of the tripping means, the latching means of the opening spring is released to effect a quick-opening operation of the circuit breaker. A housing construction is provided, particularly adaptable for submersible applications, wherein a concentric crank-armoperating mechanism projects through the sidewall of the housing structure, with the one concentric shaft actuating the crank arm mechanism and the other concentric shaft actuating a tripping mechanism. For a certain application, an operating wheel may be provided, which, in one position, will actuate one of the concentric shafts, and which when reversed to its other position, will operate the other concentric shaft for tripping operations, for example. A rotatable main operating shaft, extending lengthwise of the breaker structure, may simultaneously effect the opening and closing movements of a plurality of interrupting structures, for example, controlling a three-phase circuit. An additional feature of the circuit breaker construction is the use of separately mounted mechanism plates, which result in accurate registration of the several fixed-shaft positions, and the provision of ready maintenance therefor.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A Few
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:12
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H3/00; H01H3/32; H01H3/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A quick-opening and quick-closing circuit breaker including separable contacts separable to establish an arc, a quick-opening and quick-closing operating mechanism including a rotatable driving crank arm, a driving toggle having said rotatable crank arm connected to the knee pin thereof, a closing spring connected adjacent said knee pin and charged by the rotation of said rotatable crank arm, said driving toggle including first and second toggle links connected together at said knee pin, the other end of the first toggle link being connnected to said separable contacts, the other end of the second toggle link being pivotally connected to a pull link, an opening spring connected to the pull link and charged upon pulling motion exerted on said pull link by collapsing motion of said driving toggle as effected by closing motion of the driving crank arm, latching means for latching said pull link in its pulled condition with the opening spring charged, and means for releasing the latching means and causing the opening spring to open the separable contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A quick-opening and quick-closing circuit breaker including separable contacts separable to establish an arc, a quick-opening and quick-closing operating mechanism including a rotatable driving crank arm, a driving toggle having said rotatable crank arm connected to the knee pin thereof, a closing spring connected adjacent said knee pin and charged by the rotation of said rotatable crank arm, said driving toggle including first and second toggle links connected together at said knee pin, the other end of the first toggle link being connnected to said separable contacts, the other end of the second toggle link being pivotally connected to a pull link, an opening spring connected to the pull link and charged upon pulling motion exerted on said pull link by collapsing motion of said driving toggle as effected by closing motion of the driving crank arm, latching means for latching said pull link in its pulled condition with the opening spring charged, and means for releasing the latching means and causing the opening spring to open the separable contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The quick-opening and quick-closing circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein the driving toggle is essentially straightened following relaxing of the closing spring and completion of the rotation of the rotatable driving crank arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The quick-opening and quick-closing circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein a rotatable operating shaft extends along the circuit breaker, a second driving crank arm is affixed to the rotatable operating shaft, the other end of the first toggle link is pivotally connected to the free end of the second driving crank arm, and a plurality of separable contact means are operated from the same said rotatable operating shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The quick-opening and quick-closing circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein a pivotally mounted latching lever is pivotally connected to the pull link, and said latching means is pivotally connected to said pivotally mounted latching lever.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
An operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising a driving toggle having a closing spring and a driving link secured thereto adjacent the knee pin portion thereof, one end of one of the driving toggle links connected to the separable contact structure of the circuit breaker and the opposed end of the other driving toggle link connected to a pull rod having an opening spring charged by the inward motion thereof toward the driving toggle, and releasable latching means for releasably latching the pull rod in its inward retracted position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
An operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprising a driving toggle having a closing spring and a driving link secured thereto adjacent the knee pin portion thereof, one end of one of the driving toggle links connected to the separable contact structure of the circuit breaker and the opposed end of the other driving toggle link connected to a pull rod having an opening spring charged by the inward motion thereof toward the driving toggle, and releasable latching means for releasably latching the pull rod in its inward retracted position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein a crank arm assembly is connected to the driving link, and is adaptable for free motion following one-half of its driving rotatable travel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein a pivotally mounted latching arm is connected to the remote end of the pull rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein a bell crank-shaped lever is responsively connected to the driving toggle, and has a stop portion to prevent overtravel rotative movement of the crank arm assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
In combination, a circuit breaker casing, a concentric double-shaft arrangement extending through a wall of the circuit breaker casing, a single reversible driving wheel having two hub bore openings of different diameters on the opposite sides thereof so that a selective operation of said concentric double-shaft arrangement may be effected, one of the shafts causing operation of the circuit breaker mechanism, and the other concentric shaft causing a tripping operation of the circuit breaker.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
In combination, a circuit breaker casing, a concentric double-shaft arrangement extending through a wall of the circuit breaker casing, a single reversible driving wheel having two hub bore openings of different diameters on the opposite sides thereof so that a selective operation of said concentric double-shaft arrangement may be effected, one of the shafts causing operation of the circuit breaker mechanism, and the other concentric shaft causing a tripping operation of the circuit breaker.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 9, wherein the central shaft is the mechanism operating shaft, and the outer concentric shaft is the tripping shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 9, wherein the central shaft is the mechanism operating shaft and has an inner offset crank portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 11, wherein a lost-motion connection is provided between the offset crank portion and the interiorly disposed operating mechanism.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein a crank arm assembly is connected to the driving link, and a concentric double-shaft arrangement extends through the wall of the circuit breaker casing with one concentric shaft operating the crank arm assembly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 13, wherein a lost-motion connection is provided between said one concentric shaft and the crank arm assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The quick-closing and quick-opening circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein means responsive to motion of the driving toggle is interposed in the path of travel of the rotatable crank arm to prevent continued rotation of the crank arm and consequent possible bouncing of the separable contacts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 15, wherein a generally bellcrank-shaped lever is pivotally supported on a stationary pivot and has one arm thereof pivotally connected to one of the toggle links, the other arm constituting the interposing arm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
In combination, a circuit breaker casing, a concentric double-shaft arrangement extending through a wall of the circuit breaker casing, one of said shafts operating the circuit breaker mechanism, the other concentric shaft operating the circuit breaker tripping mechanism; a driving wheel having two hub bore openings of different diameters, whereby a selective operation of said shafts may be possible.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
In combination, a circuit breaker casing, a concentric double-shaft arrangement extending through a wall of the circuit breaker casing, one of said shafts operating the circuit breaker mechanism, the other concentric shaft operating the circuit breaker tripping mechanism; a driving wheel having two hub bore openings of different diameters, whereby a selective operation of said shafts may be possible.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 17, wherein the central shaft is the mechanism operating shaft, and the outer concentric shaft is the tripping shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 17, wherein the central shaft is the mechanism operating shaft and has an inner offset crank portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 19, wherein a lost-motion connection is provided between the offset crank portion and the interiorly disposed operating mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |