US3789268A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Miniature circuit breaker with electronic tripping means
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1972-12-29
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A small electric circuit breaker of the type having separable contacts and a manually and automatically operable mechanism for operating the contacts. In addition to the usual prior art automatic operating means, causing opening of the contacts upon the occurrence of predetermined current or voltage magnitude conditions, the circuit breaker includes means for detecting minute ground fault conditions, such as five milliamperes (5 ma.) and for tripping the circuit breaker on the occurrence of such a ground fault. The means for detecting such minute ground fault conditions and for tripping the circuit breaker in response thereto includes signal generating means such as a differential transformer, solid state electronic circuitry, for processing the ground fault signal, and a tripping solenoid. The signal generating means and the electronic circuitry are preferably preassembled in a sub-assembly or ''''ground fault sensing module,'''' before assembly into the circuit breaker. In accordance with the invention, assembly, testing, and salvaging of parts of the ground fault sensing module are facilitated by embedding or ''''potting'''' certain portions in the module housing, such as signal-generating transformers, and removably mounting certain other portions, such as electronic signal processing components, at least until certain critical testing of the module is completed. Following such testing, all components may be embedded or ''''potted'''' or, in the alternative, the module may be assembled into the circuit breaker without further potting of components.
Inventors
- 👤 K Klein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 19:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H83/00; H01H83/02; H01H83/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49004; Y10T29/4902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
331 words
An electric module for inclusion in a generally rectangular insulating casing of an electric circuit breaker of the type having at least two separable contacts within the casing, mechanical operating means for operating the contacts between open and closed circuit conditions, manually operable means for operating the operating mechanism, electrically operable means for operating the operating mechaism at least so as to move the contacts from the closed to the open circuit condition, said module comprising: a. a housing having first and second integrally formed, generally tray-shaped compartments separated by a common, intermediate barrier wall; b. said module having first electrical components in said first compartment and second electrical components in said second compartment, said first components including means for detecting an unbalance of current passing through the circuit breaker contacts to a power consuming load compared to current returning from the load through a load return conductor and means for generating a signal in response to the unbalance of the currents, and said second components including means responsive to the electrical signal from said generating means of a predetermined magnitude to cause actuation of the circuit breaker electrically operable means and operation of the circuit breaker operating mechanism; c. an insulating potting compound in said first compartment at least partially embedding said first electrical components and preventing movement of said first components during handling and testing of said module as well as during use of said module after assembly in said circuit breaker, said barrier wall preventing said potting compound in said first compartment from flowing into said second compartment, whereby said first components may be at least partially embedded in said potting compound and said module may be handled and tested, and said second components assembled in said second compartment without said potting compound flowing into said second compartment, whereby said second components may be salvaged from such module if said module does not meet tests on said module after complete assembly and after assembly into said circuit breaker.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
331 words
An electric module for inclusion in a generally rectangular insulating casing of an electric circuit breaker of the type having at least two separable contacts within the casing, mechanical operating means for operating the contacts between open and closed circuit conditions, manually operable means for operating the operating mechanism, electrically operable means for operating the operating mechaism at least so as to move the contacts from the closed to the open circuit condition, said module comprising: a. a housing having first and second integrally formed, generally tray-shaped compartments separated by a common, intermediate barrier wall; b. said module having first electrical components in said first compartment and second electrical components in said second compartment, said first components including means for detecting an unbalance of current passing through the circuit breaker contacts to a power consuming load compared to current returning from the load through a load return conductor and means for generating a signal in response to the unbalance of the currents, and said second components including means responsive to the electrical signal from said generating means of a predetermined magnitude to cause actuation of the circuit breaker electrically operable means and operation of the circuit breaker operating mechanism; c. an insulating potting compound in said first compartment at least partially embedding said first electrical components and preventing movement of said first components during handling and testing of said module as well as during use of said module after assembly in said circuit breaker, said barrier wall preventing said potting compound in said first compartment from flowing into said second compartment, whereby said first components may be at least partially embedded in said potting compound and said module may be handled and tested, and said second components assembled in said second compartment without said potting compound flowing into said second compartment, whereby said second components may be salvaged from such module if said module does not meet tests on said module after complete assembly and after assembly into said circuit breaker.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electric module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second components comprise solid state electronic components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electric module as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second components are fixedly attached to an insulating support plate received in said second compartment and wherein said barrier wall includes notches receiving conductors interconnecting said first and second components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
313 words
An electric circuit breaker comprising: a. a main insulating casing; b. an insulating wall dividing said main insulating casing into at least first and second main compartments; c. at least one pair of separable contacts in said first main compartment of said insulating casing; d. mechanical operating means in said first main compartment for operating said contacts between closed and open circuit position; e. said mechanical operating means including manually operable means comprising a manually engageable operating handle projecting from said main insulating casing; f. electrically operable means in at least one of said first and second main compartments of said casing for operating said operating mechanism to cause movement of said contacts from said closed to said open circuit position; g. an electric module in said second main compartment of said insulating casing, said electric module including signal generating and processing means electrically connected to said electrically operable means to cause actuation of said electrically operable means upon the generation of a predetermined electrical signal by said signal generating means; h. said electric module comprising an insulating support having a generally planar backwall and peripheral upstanding sidewall and an intermediate barrier wall forming at least a first and a second compartment; i. said first compartment of said moudle containing electric signal generating means capable of generating an electric signal upon the occurrence of a relatively small ground fault in a circuit connected to said electric circuit breaker; j. electric signal processing means in said second compartment of said module connected to said signal generatiNg means and also connected to said electrically operable means for operating said operating mechanism of said circuit breaker; k. said barrier wall serving to electrically separate said signal generating means from said signal processing means, and said barrier wall also serving to physically position at least one of said electric signal generating means and said signal processing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
313 words
An electric circuit breaker comprising: a. a main insulating casing; b. an insulating wall dividing said main insulating casing into at least first and second main compartments; c. at least one pair of separable contacts in said first main compartment of said insulating casing; d. mechanical operating means in said first main compartment for operating said contacts between closed and open circuit position; e. said mechanical operating means including manually operable means comprising a manually engageable operating handle projecting from said main insulating casing; f. electrically operable means in at least one of said first and second main compartments of said casing for operating said operating mechanism to cause movement of said contacts from said closed to said open circuit position; g. an electric module in said second main compartment of said insulating casing, said electric module including signal generating and processing means electrically connected to said electrically operable means to cause actuation of said electrically operable means upon the generation of a predetermined electrical signal by said signal generating means; h. said electric module comprising an insulating support having a generally planar backwall and peripheral upstanding sidewall and an intermediate barrier wall forming at least a first and a second compartment; i. said first compartment of said moudle containing electric signal generating means capable of generating an electric signal upon the occurrence of a relatively small ground fault in a circuit connected to said electric circuit breaker; j. electric signal processing means in said second compartment of said module connected to said signal generatiNg means and also connected to said electrically operable means for operating said operating mechanism of said circuit breaker; k. said barrier wall serving to electrically separate said signal generating means from said signal processing means, and said barrier wall also serving to physically position at least one of said electric signal generating means and said signal processing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electric circuit breaker as set forth in claim 4 wherein said electrically operable means comprises an electrical solenoid positioned in said second main compartment and mechanically connected to said mechanism in said first main compartment of said circuit breaker casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electric circuit breaker as set forth in claim 4 wherein said circuit breaker also includes an external test button and means connected electrically in circuit to apply a predetermined test current to said electric module to test operation thereof upon operation of said test button.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electric circuit breaker as set forth in claim 6 wherein said signal generating means in said first compartment of said module comprises means for generating a signal in response to an unbalance in current going through said separable contacts to an external load as compared to current in a conductor returning from said load to the opposite side of the circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electric circuit breaker as set forth in claim 7 wherein said circuit breaker includes solid state electronic components in said second compartment, including at least one gate-controlled semi-conductor device capable of supplying current to said solenoid to cause tripping operation of said circuit breaker.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electric circuit breaker as set forth in claim 4 wherein said circuit breaker also includes in said first compartment of said circuit breaker casing, inverse-time current responsive means for automatic opening of said operating mechanism and direct-acting current responsive means for causing opening movement of said operating mechanism.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
146 words
The method of constructing and assembling an electronic tripping module for use in a miniature circuit breaker which comprises the steps of: a. forming a generally tray-shaped housing of insulating material having a generally planar back wall, upstanding peripheral side walls and a barrier wall extending transversely of said housing between a pair of said side walls to form a first and a second compartment in said housing; b. positioning and connecting together electric signal generating components in said second compartment; c. positioning and connecting together electric signal processing components in said first compartment; d. connecting said signal generating components to said signal processing components within said housing by electrical conductors passing through at least a portion of said barrier wall; e. embedding said signal processing components in said first compartment in an insulating potting compound without embedding said signal processing components in said second compartment.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
146 words
The method of constructing and assembling an electronic tripping module for use in a miniature circuit breaker which comprises the steps of: a. forming a generally tray-shaped housing of insulating material having a generally planar back wall, upstanding peripheral side walls and a barrier wall extending transversely of said housing between a pair of said side walls to form a first and a second compartment in said housing; b. positioning and connecting together electric signal generating components in said second compartment; c. positioning and connecting together electric signal processing components in said first compartment; d. connecting said signal generating components to said signal processing components within said housing by electrical conductors passing through at least a portion of said barrier wall; e. embedding said signal processing components in said first compartment in an insulating potting compound without embedding said signal processing components in said second compartment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of constructing and ssembling an electronic tripping module for use in a miniature circuit breaker as set forth in claim 10 wherein said method also includes the steps of: a. testing said module to determine its electrical performance. b. embedding said signal processing components in an insulating compound following said testing.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
226 words
The method of constructing and assembling a miniature electric circuit breaker having electronic tripping means which comprises the steps of: a. forming a multi-part main insulating casing for said circuit breaker having at least first and second main compartments; b. forming a generally tray-shaped housing of insulating material having a generally planar back wall and peripheral upstanding side walls and a barrier wall extending transversely of said housing between a pair of said side walls to form a first and second compartment in said housing; c. positioning and connecting together electric signal geneRating components in said first compartment; d. positioning and connecting together electric signal processing components in said second compartment; e. connecting said signal generating components to said signal processing components within said hosuing by electrical conductors passing over or through at least a portion of said barrier wall; f. embedding said signal generating components in said first compartment in an insulating potting compound without embedding said signal processing components in said second compartment; g. assembling said module into said main insulating casing and connecting it electrically to said circuit breaker; h. assembling said circuit breaker casing parts so as to enclose and retain said module in position in said circuit breaker casing whereby to prevent significant movement of said components in said second compartment even though said components are not embedded in potting compound.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
226 words
The method of constructing and assembling a miniature electric circuit breaker having electronic tripping means which comprises the steps of: a. forming a multi-part main insulating casing for said circuit breaker having at least first and second main compartments; b. forming a generally tray-shaped housing of insulating material having a generally planar back wall and peripheral upstanding side walls and a barrier wall extending transversely of said housing between a pair of said side walls to form a first and second compartment in said housing; c. positioning and connecting together electric signal geneRating components in said first compartment; d. positioning and connecting together electric signal processing components in said second compartment; e. connecting said signal generating components to said signal processing components within said hosuing by electrical conductors passing over or through at least a portion of said barrier wall; f. embedding said signal generating components in said first compartment in an insulating potting compound without embedding said signal processing components in said second compartment; g. assembling said module into said main insulating casing and connecting it electrically to said circuit breaker; h. assembling said circuit breaker casing parts so as to enclose and retain said module in position in said circuit breaker casing whereby to prevent significant movement of said components in said second compartment even though said components are not embedded in potting compound.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3636482A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |