US3657672A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit breaker with manual trip structure
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1970-09-24
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Granted: 1972-04-18
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Expires: 1990-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A molded case type circuit breaker comprises an externally operable trip structure manually operable to an actuating position to trip the breaker with means for padlocking the trip structure in the actuating position.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert H Flick
- 👤 Glenn R Thomas
- 👤 John Majcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/20; H01H9/28; H01H9/281; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/12; H01H71/128
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing having a pair of openings therein, a circuit breaker structure supported in said housing, said circuit breaker structure comprising a pair of contact structures and a latched releasable member releasable to effect automatic opening of said contact structures, an operating handle extending through a first of said openings and beIng manually operable to open and close said contacts, a trip member movable from an initial position to a tripped position to effect release of said releasable member, a manual trip structure supported on said housing at the second of said openings, said manual trip structure comprising a tubular shroud supported on said housing, a trip actuator supported in said tubular shroud, biasing means biasing said trip actuator to an inoperative position, said trip actuator being manually movable in said tubular shroud and through said second opening against the bias of said biasing means to move said trip member to said tripped position, and said manual trip structure comprising means for receiving a padlock that may be used to lock said trip actuator in a position wherein said trip actuator maintains said trip member in said tripped position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing having a pair of openings therein, a circuit breaker structure supported in said housing, said circuit breaker structure comprising a pair of contact structures and a latched releasable member releasable to effect automatic opening of said contact structures, an operating handle extending through a first of said openings and beIng manually operable to open and close said contacts, a trip member movable from an initial position to a tripped position to effect release of said releasable member, a manual trip structure supported on said housing at the second of said openings, said manual trip structure comprising a tubular shroud supported on said housing, a trip actuator supported in said tubular shroud, biasing means biasing said trip actuator to an inoperative position, said trip actuator being manually movable in said tubular shroud and through said second opening against the bias of said biasing means to move said trip member to said tripped position, and said manual trip structure comprising means for receiving a padlock that may be used to lock said trip actuator in a position wherein said trip actuator maintains said trip member in said tripped position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, and said tubular shroud having a padlock receiving opening therein for receiving the hasp of a padlock that may be used to lock said trip actuator in said position wherein said trip actuator maintains said trip member in the tripped position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 2, said trip actuator being a push-button type member movable rectilinearly in said tubular shroud and through said second opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 2, and resilient means between said trip actuator and said trip member for actuating said trip member upon movement of said trip actuator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 3, and resilient means between said trip actuator and said trip member for actuating said trip member upon movement of said trip actuator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 5, said trip actuator being movable in said tubular shroud from said inoperative position to an actuating position to operate through said resilient means to move said trip member to said tripped position, stop means in said housing limiting movement of said trip member in the tripping direction, said trip actuator being movable past said actuating position to a padlocking position to clear said padlocking receiving opening for reception of the hasp of a padlock, and said resilient means being compressed after said stop means limits movement of said trip member to thereby permit movement of said trip actuator to said padlocking position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 6, a first coil spring in said tubular shroud biasing said trip actuator to the inoperative position, said trip actuator comprising a rod portion extending through said second opening, a pin member extending through said rod portion inside said housing to limit frontward movement of said trip actuator, and a coil spring supported on said rod portion and retained in position by said pin member to provide said resilient connection between said trip actuator and said trip member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3296564A
Cited
US3388224A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-18 | 1975-10-18 | 1976-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-18 | 1979-10-18 | 1980-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-18 | 1983-10-18 | 1984-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |