US3835275A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric power circuit breaker equipped with a latching mechanism wherein restoring forces are provided as a function of switching shaft position
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1973-04-18
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1993-04-18
Abstract
Abstract An electric power circuit breaker is disclosed wherein the latching mechanism as well as other parts which affect the motion of the contacts are returned by restoring forces to their initial position after the breaker is opened. The restoring forces are made ready in dependence on the position of the switching shaft of the breaker and are smaller in the closed position of the switching shaft than in the open position thereof. The invention is suited particularly for low-voltage power circuit breakers for high rated currents wherein the economic configuration of the required springs is of importance.
Inventors
- 👤 B Preuss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H3/00; H01H3/32; H01H3/38; H01H3/22; H01H3/30; H01H3/3031
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
369 words
An electric power circuit breaker comprising contact means switchable between open and closed positions; a latching mechanism for actuating said contact means; and a drive mechanism operatively connected to said latching mechanism for initiating the closing of said contact means by said latching mechanism; said latching mechanism including: a switching shaft operatively connected to said contact means and rotatable between first and second positions corresponding to said open and closed positions of said contact means respectively, lever means responsive to said drive mechanism for rotating said switching shaft from said first position to said second position, said lever means having a plurality of interacting lever parts movable between an initial position and an end position corresponding respectively to said first and second positions of said shaft, a latching lever coacting with said lever means to hold said switching shaft in said second position, tripping means releasably engaging said latching lever for releasing said latching lever to withdraw said hold on said lever means, breaker opening means operatively connected to said shaft for moving said shaft from said second position to said first position when said latching lever is released by said tripping means, first resilient means connected to said lever means for directing at least a portion of said interacting parts to said initial position by the action of a resilient restoring force developed in said first resilient means only in response to thE movement of said shaft from said second position to said first position whereby the force developed by said drive mechanism acting upon said lever means is unopposed by the resilient force of said first resilient means when said switching shaft is rotated from said first position to said second position, and second resilient means engaging said latching lever so as to be largely relaxed when said shaft is in said second position and to develop a restoring force for returning said latching lever to said tripping means in response to the movement of said shaft from said second position to said first position whereby the magnitude of said restoring force developed by said second resilient means is less when said shaft is in said second position than when said shaft is in said first position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
369 words
An electric power circuit breaker comprising contact means switchable between open and closed positions; a latching mechanism for actuating said contact means; and a drive mechanism operatively connected to said latching mechanism for initiating the closing of said contact means by said latching mechanism; said latching mechanism including: a switching shaft operatively connected to said contact means and rotatable between first and second positions corresponding to said open and closed positions of said contact means respectively, lever means responsive to said drive mechanism for rotating said switching shaft from said first position to said second position, said lever means having a plurality of interacting lever parts movable between an initial position and an end position corresponding respectively to said first and second positions of said shaft, a latching lever coacting with said lever means to hold said switching shaft in said second position, tripping means releasably engaging said latching lever for releasing said latching lever to withdraw said hold on said lever means, breaker opening means operatively connected to said shaft for moving said shaft from said second position to said first position when said latching lever is released by said tripping means, first resilient means connected to said lever means for directing at least a portion of said interacting parts to said initial position by the action of a resilient restoring force developed in said first resilient means only in response to thE movement of said shaft from said second position to said first position whereby the force developed by said drive mechanism acting upon said lever means is unopposed by the resilient force of said first resilient means when said switching shaft is rotated from said first position to said second position, and second resilient means engaging said latching lever so as to be largely relaxed when said shaft is in said second position and to develop a restoring force for returning said latching lever to said tripping means in response to the movement of said shaft from said second position to said first position whereby the magnitude of said restoring force developed by said second resilient means is less when said shaft is in said second position than when said shaft is in said first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The electric power circuit breaker of claim 1, one of said interacting parts of said lever means being a switching lever rigidly mounted on said switching shaft, said first resilient means being a first spring having one end anchored to said switching lever, and said second resilient means being a second spring also anchored to said switching lever.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
The electric power circuit breaker of claim 2, said latching lever being pivotally mounted at one end thereof and having a bracing stop disposed thereon for bracing said second spring, said tripping means being a tripping shaft releasably engaging the other end of said latching lever, said latching mechanism including stationary anchor means for bracing said second spring, said second spring being a bending spring articulately joined to said switching lever and drawn about said bracing stop to increase the bending stress in said bending spring as said switching lever moves with said switching shaft from said second position to said first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electric power circuit breaker of claim 3, said bending spring consisting of spring wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
The electric power circuit breaker of claim 1, said first resilient means being a tension spring, one of said lever parts of said lever means being a switching lever rigidly mounted on said switching shaft, an other one of said lever parts being an idler lever pivotally mounted on said switching shaft, a further one of said lever parts being a coupling lever arranged between said switching lever and said idler lever, a still further one of said lever parts being an elbow lever comprising two lever arms pivotally connected to each other, one of said lever arms of said elbow lever being articulately joined to said idler lever, said switching lever and said other one of said lever arms of said elbow lever having respective spring mounts disposed thereon so as to maintain an approximately constant spacing therebetween as said switching shaft is rotated from said first position to said second position, said tension spring being arranged between said spring mounts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The electric power circuit breaker of claim 5, said drive mechanism including force generating means arranged with respect to said elbow lever of said latching mechanism for imparting a force thereto whereby said elbow lever coacts with said idler lever, said coupling lever and said switching lever to transmit said force to said switching shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
The electric power circuit breaker of claim 6, said second resilient means being a bending spring, said latching lever being pivotally mounted at one end thereof and having a bracing stop disposed thereon for bracing said bending spring, said tripping means being a tripping shaft releasably engaging the other end of said latching lever, said latching mechanism including stationary anchor means for bracing said bending spring, said bending spring being articulately joined to said switching lever and drawn about said bracing stop to increase the bending stress in said bending spring as said switching lever moves with said switching shaft from said second position to said first position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electric power circuit breaker of claim 7, said bending spring consisting of spring wire.
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) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |