Patent US3596218A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3596218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit breaker with trip indicator
Assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
•
Filing: 1969-11-14
•
Granted: 1971-07-27
•
Expires: 1989-11-14
Abstract
Abstract The circuit breaker includes a contact making and breaking assemblage mounted in a housing and having a trip mechanism with a trip lever carrying a indicator. The housing has an opening through which the handle of a manual operator extends. The handle has a dust shield which underlies the opening and which has a window with a lens therein. The lens is exposed for viewing from the exterior of the housing when the operator handle is in ON and TRIPPED positions, respectively. Upon tripping of the trip mechanism, the trip lever is moved so as to dispose the indicator close to, and in alignment with, the lens and window for indicating the tripped condition. The lens and operator are suitably notched for permitting passage of the indicator into and out of alignment with the window.
Inventors
- 👤 Beryl W Layton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/50; H01H71/52; H01H71/522; H01H71/525; H01H71/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
336 words
In a circuit breaker and trip indicator combination: a housing; a contact making and breaking assembly in the housing which is settable in contact making position and which includes a trip mechanism settable for holding the assemblage in contact making position and for manual operation to ON and OFF positions; means to return the assemblage to contact breaking position when the trip mechanism is released; current responsive means operative under normal current conditions to latch the trip mechanism in its set position and operative under abnormal current conditions to release the trip mechanism, and thereby the assemblage for return of the assemblage to contact breaking position; an operator having a manually operable handle and connected to the assemblage for setting the assemblage and the trip mechanism; said operator being movabLe by the handle to and from an OFF position, selectively, for operating the assemblage to make and break contact, respectively, while the trip mechanism remains in its set position; said housing having a passage through which the handle extends to the outside of the housing; and indicating means within the housing and operated by the trip mechanism when the trip mechanism is released and the assemblage is returned to contact breaking position to move to an indicating position; characterized in that the operator has a window therein, and movable therewith, and exposed to view through said passage when the operator is out of its OFF position; and the indicating means includes an element pivotally mounted in the housing for rocking about an axis fixed in position relative to the housing, said element is rocked to an indicating position when the trip mechanism is released, and out of indicating position by setting of the trip mechanism; an indicator is connected to said element so as to be moved thereby into alignment with the window in the operator when the element is rocked about its axis to its indicating position, and so as to be offset from the window when the trip mechanism is in its set position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
336 words
In a circuit breaker and trip indicator combination: a housing; a contact making and breaking assembly in the housing which is settable in contact making position and which includes a trip mechanism settable for holding the assemblage in contact making position and for manual operation to ON and OFF positions; means to return the assemblage to contact breaking position when the trip mechanism is released; current responsive means operative under normal current conditions to latch the trip mechanism in its set position and operative under abnormal current conditions to release the trip mechanism, and thereby the assemblage for return of the assemblage to contact breaking position; an operator having a manually operable handle and connected to the assemblage for setting the assemblage and the trip mechanism; said operator being movabLe by the handle to and from an OFF position, selectively, for operating the assemblage to make and break contact, respectively, while the trip mechanism remains in its set position; said housing having a passage through which the handle extends to the outside of the housing; and indicating means within the housing and operated by the trip mechanism when the trip mechanism is released and the assemblage is returned to contact breaking position to move to an indicating position; characterized in that the operator has a window therein, and movable therewith, and exposed to view through said passage when the operator is out of its OFF position; and the indicating means includes an element pivotally mounted in the housing for rocking about an axis fixed in position relative to the housing, said element is rocked to an indicating position when the trip mechanism is released, and out of indicating position by setting of the trip mechanism; an indicator is connected to said element so as to be moved thereby into alignment with the window in the operator when the element is rocked about its axis to its indicating position, and so as to be offset from the window when the trip mechanism is in its set position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the operator is arranged so that the window is unexposed when the operator is in OFF position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein said element is the trip lever of the trip mechanism and the indicator is carried by the lever.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The structure according to claim 3 wherein a first pivot pivotally supports the operator for swinging about a fixed axis; a second pivot supports the lever for swinging about said fixed axis and said fixed axis is parallel to, and offset from, said first axis; and the indicator is an outwardly extending projection on the lever and faces toward the operator and is moved into alignment with the window by the trip lever.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The structure according to claim 4 wherein the operator includes a yoke having a base and supporting arms extending from the base and connected to said first pivot; the manually operable handle is connected to the base of the yoke; a leans is mounted in said window and has a portion extending into the housing; and said yoke and lens portion have aligned slots therein in which said projection passes when the indicating means moves to indicating position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
234 words
In a circuit breaker and trip indicator combination: a housing; a contact making and breaking assembly in the housing which is settable in contact making position and which includes a trip mechanism settable for holding the assemblage in contact making position and for manual operation to ON and OFF positions; means to return the assemblage to contact breaking position when the trip mechanism is released; current responsive means operative under normal current conditions to latch the trip mechanism in its set position and operative under abnormal current conditions to release the trip mechanism, and thereby the assemblage, for return of the assemblage to contact breaking position; an operator having a manually operable handle and connected to the assemblage for setting the assemblage and the trip mechanism; said operator being movable by the handle to ON and OFF position, selectively, for operating the assemblage to make and break contact, respectively, while the trip mechanism remains in its set position; said housing having a passage through which the handle extends to the outside of the housing; and indicating means within the housing operative when the trip mechanism is released and the assemblage is returned to contact breaking position to move to an indicating position; characterized in that the circuit breaker has a window; the indicating means includes an indicator which is mounted in fixed position on one of the movable operating parts of the trip mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
234 words
In a circuit breaker and trip indicator combination: a housing; a contact making and breaking assembly in the housing which is settable in contact making position and which includes a trip mechanism settable for holding the assemblage in contact making position and for manual operation to ON and OFF positions; means to return the assemblage to contact breaking position when the trip mechanism is released; current responsive means operative under normal current conditions to latch the trip mechanism in its set position and operative under abnormal current conditions to release the trip mechanism, and thereby the assemblage, for return of the assemblage to contact breaking position; an operator having a manually operable handle and connected to the assemblage for setting the assemblage and the trip mechanism; said operator being movable by the handle to ON and OFF position, selectively, for operating the assemblage to make and break contact, respectively, while the trip mechanism remains in its set position; said housing having a passage through which the handle extends to the outside of the housing; and indicating means within the housing operative when the trip mechanism is released and the assemblage is returned to contact breaking position to move to an indicating position; characterized in that the circuit breaker has a window; the indicating means includes an indicator which is mounted in fixed position on one of the movable operating parts of the trip mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure according to claIm 6 wherein said one part is the trip lever of the trip mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the assemblage and operator move the handle to a TRIPPED position when the trip mechanism is released; and said window is exposed to view through said passage when the handle is in said TRIPPED position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-26 | 1975-01-25 | 1975-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-26 | 1979-01-25 | 1979-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-26 | 1983-01-25 | 1983-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |