Multi-pole circuit breaker with single trip adjustment for all poles

Claim 2

A multi-pole circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing having a front and a back, said front having an opening therein, said housing comprising insulating barrier means forming a plurality of compartments in a side-by-side relationship, a separate pole unit comprising a pair of cooperable contacts in each of said compartments, a single operating mechanism comprising an operating handle extending through said opening in said front, said operating mechanism being operable to simultaneously operate all of said pairs of contacts between opened and closed positions, said operating mechanism comprisiNg a latched releasable member releasable to effect automatic opening of all of said pairs of contacts, a trip bar common to all of said pole units and being operatively movable to effect release of said releasable member, a separate trip device for each pole unit, each of said trip devices comprising a stationary magnetic member and a movable armature structure supported in an initial position with an air gap between the armature structure and the associated stationary magnetic member, upon the occurrence of a predetermined overload in any of said pole units the associated armature structure moving from the initial position diminishing the associated air gap to an actuating position to operatively move said common trip bar to effect release of said releasable member, and adjusting means comprising an elongated adjusting bar supported on said common trip bar for movement relative to said common trip bar, said adjusting bar being movable to simultaneously move said armature structures to simultaneously vary said air gaps, and said adjusting means comprising an adjusting member accessible from outside of said housing and operable to move said adjusting bar to simultaneously vary said air gaps.

Claim 3

A multi-pole circuit breaker according to claim 1, said opening in the front of said housing comprising a first opening, said housing having a second opening in the front thereof, said adjusting member comprising a part accessible at said second opening, and said adjusting member being mounted for movement about an axis that extends in the direction from front to back of said circuit breaker which movement about said axis moves said adjusting bar to simultaneously vary said air gaps.

Claim 4

A circuit breaker according to claim 2, said housing comprising a base and a cover removably connected to said base, each of said trip devices comprising a separate first internal adjusting means adjustable when said cover is removed to provide that said releasable member will be released near the end of the associated armature structure movement, each of said pole units comprising a separate second internal adjusting means adjustable when said cover is removed to provide an individual adjustment of the associated air gap.

Claim 5

A circuit breaker according to claim 1, a latch structure latching said releasable member, and said trip bar comprising a latch part in latching engagement with said latch structure, said trip bar being operatively movable to unlatch said latch structure to effect release of said releasable member.

Claim 6

A multi-pole circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing having an opening in the front thereof, said housing comprising insulating barrier means forming a plurality of compartments in a side-by-side relationship, a separate pole unit in each of said compartments, each of said pole units comprising a pair of cooperable contacts, a single operating mechanism comprising an operating handle extending through said opening, said operating mechanism being operable to simultaneously operate all of said pairs of contacts between opened and closed positions, a latched releasable member releasable to effect automatic opening of all of said pairs of contacts, a latch structure in latching engagement with said latch releasable member, a trip bar common to all of said pole units and being operatively movable to engage said latch structure to move said latch structure to a position releasing said releasable member, a separate trip device for each pole unit, each of said trip devices comprising a stationary magnetic member and a movable armature structure in an initial position, upon the occurrence of a predetermined overload in any of said pole units the associated armature structure moving from the initial position diminishing the associated air gap to an actuating position to move said common trip bar to a tripping position during which movement said common trip bar engages said latch structure to move said latch structure to a position releasing said releasable member, said common triP bar being movable to simultaneously move said armature structures to simultaneously vary said air gaps, and a single adjusting member operable to move said trip bar to adjust said air gaps.

Claim 7

A multi-pole circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing having an opening in the front thereof, said housing comprising insulating barrier means forming a plurality of compartments in a side-by-side relationship, a separate pole unit in each of said compartments, each of said pole units comprising a pair of cooperable contacts, a single operating mechanism comprising an operating handle extending through said opening, said operating mechanism being operable to simultaneously operate all of said pairs of contacts between opened and closed positions, a latched releasable member releasable to effect automatic opening of all of said pairs of contacts, a latch structure in latching engagement with said latch releasable member, a trip bar common to all of said pole units and being operatively movable to engage said latch structure to move said latch structure to a position releasing said releasable member, a separate trip device for each pole unit, each of said trip devices comprising a stationary magnetic member and a movable armature structure in an initial position, upon the occurrence of a predetermined overload in any of said pole units the associated armature structure moving from the initial position diminishing the associated air gap to an actuating position to move said common trip bar to a tripping position during which movement said common trip bar engages said latch structure to move said latch structure to a position releasing said releasable member, said common triP bar being movable to simultaneously move said armature structures to simultaneously vary said air gaps, and a single adjusting member operable to move said trip bar to adjust said air gaps.

Claim 8

A multi-pole circuit breaker according to claim 5, said housing having a second opening in the front thereof, said adjusting member being accessible at said second opening and being mounted for movement about an axis extending in the direction from front to back of said circuit breaker, said adjusting member comprising a cam part operable against said common trip bar to move said common trip bar to simultaneously vary said air gaps.

Claim 9

A multi-pole circuit breaker having a pair of separable contacts per pole, common operating means for opening and closing said contacts conjointly, said operating means including a releasable member and latch means for releasably restraining said releasable member, overcurrent responsive means including a trip member extending across all of the poles for causing automatic opening of all of the contacts in response to an overload in any one pole, a magnetic core assembly in each pole, a winding about said core for generating a magnetic field therein proportional to the current flowing through said winding, an armature pivotally mounted on said core for cooperation therewith, said armature being operatively connected to said trip member, an actuator bar extending across all of said poles, said actuator bar being mounted on said trip member for movement relative to said trip member, air gap adjusting means at each of said poles for presetting the air gap at each of said poles independently, and means adjacent said actuator bar for changing the position of said actuator bar for simultaneously changing the air gaps at all of said poles to thereby change their overcurrent response.

Claim 10

A multi-pole circuit breaker having a pair of separable contacts per pole, common operating means for opening and closing said contacts conjointly, said operating means including a releasable member and latch means for releasably restraining said releasable member, overcurrent responsive means including a trip member extending across all of the poles for causing automatic opening of all of the contacts in response to an overload in any one pole, a magnetic core assembly in each pole, a winding about said core for generating a magnetic field therein proportional to the current flowing through said winding, an armature pivotally mounted on said core for cooperation therewith, said armature being operatively connected to said trip member, an actuator bar extending across all of said poles, said actuator bar being mounted on said trip member for movement relative to said trip member, air gap adjusting means at each of said poles for presetting the air gap at each of said poles independently, and means adjacent said actuator bar for changing the position of said actuator bar for simultaneously changing the air gaps at all of said poles to thereby change their overcurrent response.

Claim 11

A multi-pole circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing formed to provide a plurality of side-by-side pole-unit compartments therein, a separate pole unit in each of said compartments with each of said pole units comprising a separate pair of cooperable contacts, an operating mechanism manually operable to simultaneously open and close all of said pairs of cooperable contacts, a latched releasable member releasable to effect simultaneous opening of all of said pairs of cooperable contacts, a separate trip device for each of said pole units, each of said separate trip devices comprising a stationary magnetic member and a movable magnetic armature structure and an armature spring means biasing the movable magnetic armature structure away from the stationary magnetic member to an unattracted position, a common trip bar common to all of said pole units movable to effect release of said releasable member, upon the occurrence of an overload current above a predetermined value in any of said pole units the associated armature structure being automatically attracted to the associated magnetic member and moving against the bias of the associated armature spring means during which movement the associated armature structure moves said common trip bar to effect release of said releasable member, said insulating housing comprising an insulating base and an insulating cover secured to said insulating base, each of said trip devices comprising internal adjusting means adjustable during assembly of said circuit breaker when said insulating cover is removed from said insulating base to adjust the trip characteristics of the associated trip device, each of said internal adjusting means comprising means for adjusting the associated armature spring means, an adjusting bar common to all of said pole units and cooperable with each of said trip devices, said adjusting bar being movable to simultaneously adjust the trip characteristics of all of said trip devices, said insulating cover having a first opening therein and a second opening therein, with said insulating cover secured to said insulating base an operating handle protruding through said first openIng, said operating handle being manually operable to simultaneously operate all of said pairs of contacts, a single adjusting member comprising an adjusting part accessible at said second opening when said insulating cover is secured to said insulating base, said adjusting member being adjustably movable to move said adjusting bar to simultaneously adjust the trip characteristics of all of said trip devices.

Claim 12

A multi-pole circuit breaker comprising an insulating housing formed to provide a plurality of side-by-side pole-unit compartments therein, a separate pole unit in each of said compartments with each of said pole units comprising a separate pair of cooperable contacts, an operating mechanism manually operable to simultaneously open and close all of said pairs of cooperable contacts, a latched releasable member releasable to effect simultaneous opening of all of said pairs of cooperable contacts, a separate trip device for each of said pole units, each of said separate trip devices comprising a stationary magnetic member and a movable magnetic armature structure and an armature spring means biasing the movable magnetic armature structure away from the stationary magnetic member to an unattracted position, a common trip bar common to all of said pole units movable to effect release of said releasable member, upon the occurrence of an overload current above a predetermined value in any of said pole units the associated armature structure being automatically attracted to the associated magnetic member and moving against the bias of the associated armature spring means during which movement the associated armature structure moves said common trip bar to effect release of said releasable member, said insulating housing comprising an insulating base and an insulating cover secured to said insulating base, each of said trip devices comprising internal adjusting means adjustable during assembly of said circuit breaker when said insulating cover is removed from said insulating base to adjust the trip characteristics of the associated trip device, each of said internal adjusting means comprising means for adjusting the associated armature spring means, an adjusting bar common to all of said pole units and cooperable with each of said trip devices, said adjusting bar being movable to simultaneously adjust the trip characteristics of all of said trip devices, said insulating cover having a first opening therein and a second opening therein, with said insulating cover secured to said insulating base an operating handle protruding through said first openIng, said operating handle being manually operable to simultaneously operate all of said pairs of contacts, a single adjusting member comprising an adjusting part accessible at said second opening when said insulating cover is secured to said insulating base, said adjusting member being adjustably movable to move said adjusting bar to simultaneously adjust the trip characteristics of all of said trip devices.

Claim 13

A circuit breaker according to claim 8, said single adjusting member and said adjusting bar comprising cooperating cam parts operating to cam said adjusting bar to simultaneously adjust the trip characteristics of all of said trip devices upon adjusting movement of said single adjusting member.

Claim 14

A circuit breaker according to claim 9, said insulating base comprising a generally planar back, said single adjusting member being supported for movement about an axis generally normal to said generally planar back.

Claim 15

A multi-pole circuit breaker according to claim 10, said adjusting bar being movably mounted on said trip bar for adjusting movement relative to said trip bar.

Claim 16

A multi-pole circuit breaker according to claim 11, said trip bar being supported for movement about an axis generally parallel to said generally planar back, and said adjusting bar being supported on said trip for adjusting movement relative to said trip bar about said axis generally normal to said generally planar back.