US3594668A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote control circuit breaker
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1970-01-02
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Granted: 1971-07-20
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Expires: 1990-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A miniature remote control circuit breaker in which a movable contact member including a movable contact is engageable with a fixed contact. Motor means, such as a solenoid and an armature actuated thereby, move the contact member from a contacts-open position to a contacts-closed position when the solenoid is energized by remote switch means. Preferably a linkage including two resiliently connected driving members is employed to couple the motor means to the contact member. Condition-sensing (e.g. current-sensing) latch means retain the contact member in its contacts-closed position until the condition sensed varies beyond a predetermined value whereupon the latch means releases the contact member, thereby opening the contacts independently of the energization of the motor means. Further latch means are provided to retain the contact member in its closed position. The latter latch means are responsive to further actuation of the remote switch means thereby to release the contact member and separate said contacts. A further solenoid and armature are preferably provided to effect the release of the further latch means in response to further actuation of the remote switch means.
Inventors
- 👤 David E Clarke
- 👤 William G Foley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/30; H01H9/38; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/12; H01H71/40; H01H71/66; H01H71/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A circuit breaker comprising: a fixed contact; a movable contact member including a movable contact adapted for engagement with the fixed contact, said member being movable between a first position in which said contacts are separated and a second position in which said contacts are in conductive engagement; motor means and a linkage extending from said means to said contact member for moving said contact member from its first position to its second position when the motor means is actuated; biasing means urging said contact member toward said first position; and condition-sensing latch means for retaining said contact member in its second position until the condition sensed varies beyond a predetermined value whereupon said latch means releases said contact member to open said contacts independently of the actuation of said motor means; said linkage including a first driving member, an attachment between said first driving member and the motor means, a second driving member engageable with the movable contact member, a resilient connection between said first and second driving members to effect resilient engagement between the second driving member and the contact member as the latter is driven to contact-closing position and to effect lost motion between said driving members after contact engagement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A circuit breaker comprising: a fixed contact; a movable contact member including a movable contact adapted for engagement with the fixed contact, said member being movable between a first position in which said contacts are separated and a second position in which said contacts are in conductive engagement; motor means and a linkage extending from said means to said contact member for moving said contact member from its first position to its second position when the motor means is actuated; biasing means urging said contact member toward said first position; and condition-sensing latch means for retaining said contact member in its second position until the condition sensed varies beyond a predetermined value whereupon said latch means releases said contact member to open said contacts independently of the actuation of said motor means; said linkage including a first driving member, an attachment between said first driving member and the motor means, a second driving member engageable with the movable contact member, a resilient connection between said first and second driving members to effect resilient engagement between the second driving member and the contact member as the latter is driven to contact-closing position and to effect lost motion between said driving members after contact engagement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
192 words
A circuit breaker comprising: a fixed contact; a movable contact member including a movable contact adapted for engagement with the fixed contact, said member being movable between a first position in which said contacts are in conductive engagement; means comprising a solenoid and an armature, a linkage extending from said armature to said contact member for moving said contact member from its first position to its second position when the solenoid is energized; biasing means urging said contact member toward said first position; current-sensing latch means for retaining said contact member in its second position until the current sensed exceeds a predetermined value whereupon said latch means releases said contact member to open said contacts independently of the energization of said solenoid; said linkage including a first driving member, an attachment between said first driving member and the armature, a second driving member engageable with the movable contact member, a resilient connection between said first and second driving members to effect resilient engagement between the second driving member and the contact member as the latter is driven to contact-closing position and to effect lost motion between said driving members after contact engagement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
192 words
A circuit breaker comprising: a fixed contact; a movable contact member including a movable contact adapted for engagement with the fixed contact, said member being movable between a first position in which said contacts are in conductive engagement; means comprising a solenoid and an armature, a linkage extending from said armature to said contact member for moving said contact member from its first position to its second position when the solenoid is energized; biasing means urging said contact member toward said first position; current-sensing latch means for retaining said contact member in its second position until the current sensed exceeds a predetermined value whereupon said latch means releases said contact member to open said contacts independently of the energization of said solenoid; said linkage including a first driving member, an attachment between said first driving member and the armature, a second driving member engageable with the movable contact member, a resilient connection between said first and second driving members to effect resilient engagement between the second driving member and the contact member as the latter is driven to contact-closing position and to effect lost motion between said driving members after contact engagement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 2 including further latch means operative in connection with said first driving means for retaining said contact member in its second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 2 wherein said current-sensing latch means comprises a catch, a finger extending from said movable contact member and supported by said catch in said second position, said engagement between the second driving member and said movable contact member being in the form of a loose rocking connection to permit rotary movement of the movable contact member in movements between its various positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 2 wherein said first driving member is in the form of a first plate having a window from opposite sides of which extend tongues for the reception of a compression coil spring, and said second driving member is in the form of a second plate slidable on one side of the first plate and having a tongue portion within the coils of the spring and shoulders engaging one of its ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 5 which includes a third plate on the opposite side of the first plate, said third plate having a window for reception of the spring and from one side of which extends a tongue portion within the coils of the spring to hold it axially straight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 6 wherein said engagement between the second driving member and said movable contact member is in the form of a loose rocking connection to permit rotary movement of the movable contact member in movement between its various positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 7 wherein the loose rocking connection comprises a tongue on that end of the second driving member which engages said contact member, and a slot in the contact member into which said tongue projects.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 2 which includes further latch means operative in connection with said first driving means for retaining said contact member in its second position, a second solenoid and a second armature, switch means for energizing the second solenoid, a second linkage connecting said second armature with said second latch means to release it when the switch means is actuated, said switch means being actuated upon movement of the contact member to a third position in response to release of the contact member by the current-sensing latch means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 9 including a fulcrum engageable by the contact member to rotate it in moving from its third to its first position so as to deactuate the switch means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 9 which includes second switch means for deenergizing the first said solenoid upon actuation thereof, said second switch means being actuated by said further latch means while it is retaining said contact member in its second position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 2 in which the solenoid is energizable by switch means remote from said circuit breaker.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 9 in which said first and second solenoids are alternatively energizable by switch means remote from said circuit breaker respectively to move said contact member into its second position and to release the further latch means thereby to cause the contact member to move from its second position to its first position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 13 which further includes an indicator located with said remote switch means, said indicator being energizable by the first said switch means upon actuation thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 14 wherein said indicator comprises a bimetal type thermal motor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 9 which further includes manual means adapted to move said contact member to its second position and alternatively to move said further latch means to release said contact member from its second position and permit it to return to its first position, said manual means having a lost motion connection with said further latch means and a lost motion connection with said contact member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 16, said manual means having a neutral rest position in which it is not in engagement with said contact member or said further latch means, said breaker further including another switch means adapted to be actuated when said manual means is moved from its neutral rest position thereby to disconnect said remote switch means from the first said solenoid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 9 which includes means for ganging its further latch means to the further latch means of at least one additional like breaker for multiphase operation whereby the release of one of the further latch means releases all of sAid ganged latch means.
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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) | 1974-07-19 | 1975-01-18 | 1975-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-19 | 1979-01-18 | 1979-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-19 | 1983-01-18 | 1983-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |