Patent US3671908A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3671908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit breaker
Assignee: Commander Electrical Equipment Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-10
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Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1990-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A circuit breaker switch with thermal and magnetic tripping, with the thermal element positioned between the tripping mechanism pivots permitting increased contact force for a given latch load. A common trip for multipole switches with the overload latch and the common trip linkage having a common pivot axis, but independent pivots, with the latch moving freely for a small tripping distance and on moving a greater distance, driving the common trip linkage. An open arc plate design and stamped latch and trip arm having engaging surfaces with smooth plastically deformed edges.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold E Belttary
- 👤 John G Palmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 04:00
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/50; H01H71/505; H01H71/1009; H01H71/1027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
295 words
In a circuit breaker switch, the combination of: a housing having opposing ends; a fixed contact mounted in said housing adjacent one of said ends; a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a moving contact thereon and pivotally engaging said handle; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing adjacent said one end; a spring connected between said contact carrier and said trip arm urging said contact carrier toward said handle; with said handle, contact carrier and spring forming an over center mechanism for closing and opening said contacts; a latch carried in said housing and engaging said trip arm maintaining said trip arm in a set position when said contacts are closed, with said spring urging said trip arm toward a tripped position; a load conductor mounted in said housing adjacent said other end; a magnet disposed about said load conductor adjacent said latch; a thermally responsive element connected in circuit between said load conductor and said contact carrier and positioned between said fixed contact and said latch for movement independent of said latch, with said responsive element moving under a high current condition to move said latch and release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, and with said magnet moving said latch under a high current condition to release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts; and a shaft pivotally mounted in said housing for driving a corresponding shaft in an adjacent switch, with said latch pivotally mounted in a slot in said shaft in driving relation, with the size of said slot greater than the size of said latch whereby said latch may move a small distance to release said trip arm without driving said shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
295 words
In a circuit breaker switch, the combination of: a housing having opposing ends; a fixed contact mounted in said housing adjacent one of said ends; a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a moving contact thereon and pivotally engaging said handle; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing adjacent said one end; a spring connected between said contact carrier and said trip arm urging said contact carrier toward said handle; with said handle, contact carrier and spring forming an over center mechanism for closing and opening said contacts; a latch carried in said housing and engaging said trip arm maintaining said trip arm in a set position when said contacts are closed, with said spring urging said trip arm toward a tripped position; a load conductor mounted in said housing adjacent said other end; a magnet disposed about said load conductor adjacent said latch; a thermally responsive element connected in circuit between said load conductor and said contact carrier and positioned between said fixed contact and said latch for movement independent of said latch, with said responsive element moving under a high current condition to move said latch and release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, and with said magnet moving said latch under a high current condition to release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts; and a shaft pivotally mounted in said housing for driving a corresponding shaft in an adjacent switch, with said latch pivotally mounted in a slot in said shaft in driving relation, with the size of said slot greater than the size of said latch whereby said latch may move a small distance to release said trip arm without driving said shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said trip arm and said latch include cooperating members engageable after said latch releases said trip arm, for driving said latch a greater distance to drive said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A switch as defined in claim 1 in which said shaft includes means defining a radial slot in an end thereof, and including a link for positioning in said radial slot and in the radial slot of an adjacent switch for driving the shaft of the switches in synchronism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
A switch as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of arc plates carried in said housing in spaced relation, each of said arc plates having a generally M-configuration with two outEr legs and two center legs defining a central opening between the center legs and spaced outer openings each between an outer leg and a center leg, with the central openings of said plurality of plates defining a first path for said moving contact during closing and opening, and with the outer openings defining second and third paths on opposite sides of the first path providing gas flow paths over the inner edge, sides and outer edge of each of said center legs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
267 words
In a circuit breaker switch, the combination of: a housing; a fixed contact mounted in said housing; a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a moving contact thereon and pivotally engaging said handle; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing; a spring connected between said contact carrier and said trip arm urging said contact carrier toward said handle; with said handle, contact carrier and spring forming an over center mechanism for closing and opening said contacts; a shaft pivotally mounted in said housing for driving a corresponding shaft in an adjacent switch; a latch carried in said shaft in driving relation, said latch engaging said trip arm maintaining said trip arm in a set position when said contacts are closed, with said spring urging said trip arm toward a tripped position; a load conductor mounted in said housing; a magnet disposed about said load conductor adjacent said latch; and a thermally responsive element connected in circuit between said load conductor and said contact carrier, with said responsive element moving under a high current condition to move said latch and release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, and with said magnet moving said latch under a high current condition to release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, and with said shaft including means defining a slot for receiving said latch with the size of said slot greater than the size of said latch whereby said latch may move a small distance to release said trip arm without driving said shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
267 words
In a circuit breaker switch, the combination of: a housing; a fixed contact mounted in said housing; a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a moving contact thereon and pivotally engaging said handle; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing; a spring connected between said contact carrier and said trip arm urging said contact carrier toward said handle; with said handle, contact carrier and spring forming an over center mechanism for closing and opening said contacts; a shaft pivotally mounted in said housing for driving a corresponding shaft in an adjacent switch; a latch carried in said shaft in driving relation, said latch engaging said trip arm maintaining said trip arm in a set position when said contacts are closed, with said spring urging said trip arm toward a tripped position; a load conductor mounted in said housing; a magnet disposed about said load conductor adjacent said latch; and a thermally responsive element connected in circuit between said load conductor and said contact carrier, with said responsive element moving under a high current condition to move said latch and release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, and with said magnet moving said latch under a high current condition to release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, and with said shaft including means defining a slot for receiving said latch with the size of said slot greater than the size of said latch whereby said latch may move a small distance to release said trip arm without driving said shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said trip arm and said latch include cooperating members engageable after said latch releases said trip arm, for driving said latch a greater distance to drive said shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said shaft includes a latch support surface and said latch includes a shaft contact surface, with said shaft supporting said latch at said surfaces and with at least one of said surfaces being convex defining a contact line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
A switch as defined in claim 10 including a plurality of arc plates carried in said housing in spaced relation, each of said arc plates having a generally M-configuration with a central opening and spaced outer openings, with the central openings of said plurality of plates defining a first path for said moving contact during closing and opening, and with the outer openings defining second and third paths on opposite sides of the first path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
A switch as defined in claim 5 in which said latch has a first stamped metal plate supporting a second stamped metal plate of said trip arm when in said set position, with each of said plates having a plastically deformed edge and a break edge and with the plastically deformed edges contacting each other and with the break edges spaced from each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
187 words
In an electrical switch, the combination of: a housing; a fixed contact mounted in said housing; a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a moving contact therein and pivotally engaging said handle; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing; a spring connected between said contact carrier and said trip arm urging said contact carrier toward said handle; with said handle, contact carrier and spring forming an over center mechanism for closing and opening said conTacts; a plurality of arc plates carried in said housing in spaced relation, each of said arc plates having a generally M-configuration with two outer legs and two center legs defining a central opening between the center legs and spaced outer openings each between an outer leg and a center leg, with the central openings of said plurality of plates defining a first path for said moving contact during closing and opening, and with the outer openings defining second and third paths on opposite sides of said first path providing gas flow paths over the inner edge, sides and outer edge of each of said center legs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
187 words
In an electrical switch, the combination of: a housing; a fixed contact mounted in said housing; a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a moving contact therein and pivotally engaging said handle; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing; a spring connected between said contact carrier and said trip arm urging said contact carrier toward said handle; with said handle, contact carrier and spring forming an over center mechanism for closing and opening said conTacts; a plurality of arc plates carried in said housing in spaced relation, each of said arc plates having a generally M-configuration with two outer legs and two center legs defining a central opening between the center legs and spaced outer openings each between an outer leg and a center leg, with the central openings of said plurality of plates defining a first path for said moving contact during closing and opening, and with the outer openings defining second and third paths on opposite sides of said first path providing gas flow paths over the inner edge, sides and outer edge of each of said center legs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
259 words
In a circuit breaker switch, the combination of: a housing; a fixed contact mounted in said housing; a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a moving contact therein and pivotally engaging said handle; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing; a spring connected between said contact carrier and said trip arm urging said contact carrier toward said handle; with said handle, contact carrier and spring forming an over center mechanism for closing and opening said contacts; a latch carried in said housing and engaging said trip arm maintaining said trip arm in a set position when said contacts are closed, with said spring urging said trip arm toward a tripped position; said latch having a first stamped metal plate supporting a second stamped metal plate of said trip arm when in said set position, with each of said plates having a plastically deformed edge and a break edge and with the plastically deformed edges contacting each other and with the break edges spaced from each other; a load conductor mounted in said housing; a magnet disposed about said load conductor adjacent said latch; and a thermally responsive element connected in circuit between said load conductor and said contact carrier, with said responsive element moving under a high current condition to move said latch and release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, and with said magnet moving said latch under a high current condition to release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
259 words
In a circuit breaker switch, the combination of: a housing; a fixed contact mounted in said housing; a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a moving contact therein and pivotally engaging said handle; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing; a spring connected between said contact carrier and said trip arm urging said contact carrier toward said handle; with said handle, contact carrier and spring forming an over center mechanism for closing and opening said contacts; a latch carried in said housing and engaging said trip arm maintaining said trip arm in a set position when said contacts are closed, with said spring urging said trip arm toward a tripped position; said latch having a first stamped metal plate supporting a second stamped metal plate of said trip arm when in said set position, with each of said plates having a plastically deformed edge and a break edge and with the plastically deformed edges contacting each other and with the break edges spaced from each other; a load conductor mounted in said housing; a magnet disposed about said load conductor adjacent said latch; and a thermally responsive element connected in circuit between said load conductor and said contact carrier, with said responsive element moving under a high current condition to move said latch and release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, and with said magnet moving said latch under a high current condition to release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
A switch as defined in claim 11 including a plurality of arc plates carried in said housing in spaced relation, each of said arc plates having a generally M-configuration with a central opening and spaced outer openings, with the central openings of said plurality of plates defining a first path for said moving contact during closing and opening, and with the outer openings defining second and third paths on opposite sides of the first path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
289 words
In a circuit breaker switch, the combination of: a housing having opposing ends; a fixed contact mounted in said housing adjacent one of said ends; a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a moving contact thereon and pivotally engaging said handle; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing adjacent said one end; a spring connected contact said contact carrier and said trip arm urging said contact carrier toward said handle; with said handle, contact carrier and spring forming an over center mechanism for closing and opening said contacts; a latch carried in said housing and engaging said trip arm maintaining said trip arm in a set position when said contacts are closed, with said spring urging said trip arm toward a tripped position; a load conductor mounted in said housing adjacent said latch; a magnet disposed about said load conductor adjacent said latch; a thermally responsive element connected in circuit between said load conductor and said contact carrier and positioned between said fixed contact and said latch for movement independent of said latch, with said responsive element moving under a high current condition to move said latch and release said trip arm foR movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, and with said magnet moving said latch under a high current condition to release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, with said latch having a first stamped metal plate supporting a second stamped metal plate of said trip arm when in said set position, with each of said plates having a plastically deformed edge and a break edge and with the plastically deformed edges contacting each other and with the break edges spaced from each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
289 words
In a circuit breaker switch, the combination of: a housing having opposing ends; a fixed contact mounted in said housing adjacent one of said ends; a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a moving contact thereon and pivotally engaging said handle; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing adjacent said one end; a spring connected contact said contact carrier and said trip arm urging said contact carrier toward said handle; with said handle, contact carrier and spring forming an over center mechanism for closing and opening said contacts; a latch carried in said housing and engaging said trip arm maintaining said trip arm in a set position when said contacts are closed, with said spring urging said trip arm toward a tripped position; a load conductor mounted in said housing adjacent said latch; a magnet disposed about said load conductor adjacent said latch; a thermally responsive element connected in circuit between said load conductor and said contact carrier and positioned between said fixed contact and said latch for movement independent of said latch, with said responsive element moving under a high current condition to move said latch and release said trip arm foR movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, and with said magnet moving said latch under a high current condition to release said trip arm for movement to the tripped position opening said contacts, with said latch having a first stamped metal plate supporting a second stamped metal plate of said trip arm when in said set position, with each of said plates having a plastically deformed edge and a break edge and with the plastically deformed edges contacting each other and with the break edges spaced from each other.
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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) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |