US3784940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit breaker with overcurrent and auxiliary releases
Assignee: PROVIDENT INDUSTRIES Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-15
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1992-09-15
Abstract
Abstract An automatic circuit breaker here includes a mechanism for manual opening and closing of the contacts, and an overcurrent release. Auxiliary release means is also included for opening of the contacts, as in response to a detected ground fault. The overcurrent release includes a latch that is caused to deflect laterally in response to an overcurrent, and the mechanism includes a shiftable latch part having a lateral surface that engages an abutment part of the overcurrent latch. Deflection of the latch, or retraction of the latch part effects release of the circuit breaker. An electromagnet has an armature for operating the shiftable latch part. The armature is located close to the shiftable latch part in the closed configuration of the mechanism, but there is no possible interference by the armature with any of the operating paths of the circuit breaker mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Torre J De
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H83/00; H01H83/02; H01H83/20; H01H71/00; H01H71/02; H01H71/0264; H01H71/0271; H01H2071/0278
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A circuit breaker including i. a pair of contacts ii. a movable arm operable to close and open said contacts, iii. overcurrent release means carried by said arm, said overcurrent release means including an overcurrent latch that is caused to deflect from its normal position in response to an overcurrent, iv. an actuator pivotally carried by said movable arm and having a body member and a latch part movable to retracted and projected positions relative to said body member and normally biased to said projected position for engagement of a lateral surface of said latch part by said latch when in said projected position for arresting said actuator against pivoting relative to said arm, said engagement being released both upon deflection of said latch due to an overcurrent and upon retraction of said latch part, v. operating means articulated to said actuator for driving said actuator and said arm and said overcurrent release means through a contact-closing motion when the latch is engaged by said latch part, during which said latch part is transported in an operating stroke, and vi. auxiliary release means having a release member normally disposed out of said operating stroke of said latch part but operable into cooperation with said latch part upon completion of said contact-closing stroke for driving said latch part to said retracted position and thereby releasing said movable arm to open said contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A circuit breaker including i. a pair of contacts ii. a movable arm operable to close and open said contacts, iii. overcurrent release means carried by said arm, said overcurrent release means including an overcurrent latch that is caused to deflect from its normal position in response to an overcurrent, iv. an actuator pivotally carried by said movable arm and having a body member and a latch part movable to retracted and projected positions relative to said body member and normally biased to said projected position for engagement of a lateral surface of said latch part by said latch when in said projected position for arresting said actuator against pivoting relative to said arm, said engagement being released both upon deflection of said latch due to an overcurrent and upon retraction of said latch part, v. operating means articulated to said actuator for driving said actuator and said arm and said overcurrent release means through a contact-closing motion when the latch is engaged by said latch part, during which said latch part is transported in an operating stroke, and vi. auxiliary release means having a release member normally disposed out of said operating stroke of said latch part but operable into cooperation with said latch part upon completion of said contact-closing stroke for driving said latch part to said retracted position and thereby releasing said movable arm to open said contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A circuit breaker in accordance with claim 1, wherein said auxiliary release means includes an electromagnet having a movable armature for operating said release member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A circuit breaker in accordance with claim 1 wherein said auxiliary release means includes an electromagnet having a movable armature and wherein said release member is carried by said armature and operable thereby when the electromagnet is energized, said release member being arranged to operate in the direction opposite that traveled by said latch part during said contact closing motion of said actuator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
212 words
A circuit breaker having a pair of separable contacts and mechanism for operating said contacts including manual operating means for causing said contacts to open and close and control means adapted to hold the contacts closed subject to the contacts being opened by said manual operating means and to cause opening of said contacts both in response to an overcurrent and in response to auxiliary contol, said control means including overcurrent responsive latching means having an abutment and a latched device including a shiftable part biased in a given direction into engagement with said abutment when holding said contacts closed, said abutment and said shiftable part having latching and latched positions, respectively, when Holding the contacts closed, said overcurrent responsive latching means including means for deflecting said abutment transversely to said given direction and out of said latching position thereof for thereby disengaging said latched device and, in turn, for causing said operating mechanism to open the contacts, and auxiliary tripping means for causing said shiftable part to move transversely to said given direction and out of engagement with said abutment while the latter remains in said latching position for thereby effecting auxiliary release of the operating mechanism for opening the contacts while the abutment of said overcurrent latching means remains undeflected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
212 words
A circuit breaker having a pair of separable contacts and mechanism for operating said contacts including manual operating means for causing said contacts to open and close and control means adapted to hold the contacts closed subject to the contacts being opened by said manual operating means and to cause opening of said contacts both in response to an overcurrent and in response to auxiliary contol, said control means including overcurrent responsive latching means having an abutment and a latched device including a shiftable part biased in a given direction into engagement with said abutment when holding said contacts closed, said abutment and said shiftable part having latching and latched positions, respectively, when Holding the contacts closed, said overcurrent responsive latching means including means for deflecting said abutment transversely to said given direction and out of said latching position thereof for thereby disengaging said latched device and, in turn, for causing said operating mechanism to open the contacts, and auxiliary tripping means for causing said shiftable part to move transversely to said given direction and out of engagement with said abutment while the latter remains in said latching position for thereby effecting auxiliary release of the operating mechanism for opening the contacts while the abutment of said overcurrent latching means remains undeflected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A circuit breaker in accordance with claim 4 wherein said auxiliary tripping means includes an electromagnet and means rendered operative by said electromagnet for causing said shiftable part to shift transversely to said given direction and out of engagement with said abutment and thereby to cause opening of the contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A circuit breaker in accordance with claim 4 wherein said auxiliary tripping means includes an electromagnet and means including an armature for driving said shiftable part out of engagement with said abutment in response to energization of the electromagnet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |