Electric circuit breaker with auxiliary trip mechanism

Claim 2

In an electric circuit breaker having a circuit closing mechanism including a cam movable along a predetermined path to effect a closed circuit condition across the breaker, drive means movable in opposite pivotal directions and operatively connected to the cam upon movement in one direction to drive the cam in said one direction along said path, and a tripping mechanism including a manual trip actuator for opening the circuit controlled by the breaker, the combination including an auxiliary trip actuating mechanism operatively associated with said drive means for operating the tripping mechanism comprising a trip drive member connected to said drive means for conjunctive movement in opposite pivotal directions and a trip arm mounted for pivotal movement between a retracted position and a tripping position, the trip drive member engaging said trip arm upon movement with said drive means in a direction opposite said one direction to drive the trip arm toward it tripping position when the breaker is in a closed circuit condition to initiate tripping of the breaker.

Claim 3

The circuit breaker of claim 1 including biasing means connected to the trip arm for urging the latter into engagement with the trip drive member for controlling movement of the trip arm between its retracted and tripping positions.

Claim 4

The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the trip arm is mounted by the cam of the closing mechanism for movement therewith, said cam, upon effecting a closed circuit condition across the breaker, automatically positions said tripping arm to operatively engage the tripping mechanism upon movement of the tripping arm to its tripping position.

Claim 5

The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the drive means includes a rotatable drive shaft and the trip drive member is a drive plate mounted on the shaft for movement therewith in opposite pivotal directions, said cam rotatably mounted on the shaft in spaced axial relationship with the drive plate.

Claim 6

The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the trip actuator is slidably movable toward a tripping position and the trip arm includes a cam face for engaging said slidably moving the trip actuator toward its tripping position upon movement of the trip arm toward its tripping position.

Claim 7

The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the drive means includes a shaft, the trip drive member is a plate secured to the shaft for movement therewith, the auxiliary trip mechanism includes spring means urging the trip arm toward a retracted position, the trip arm being mounted by the cam for movement therewith under the driving action of the shaft and being provided with a pin on one end thereof engageable by the plate upon rotation of the shaft in a direction opposite said one direction when the cam is in a closed circuit position to drive the trip arm out of the retracted position against the bias of the spring means.

Claim 8

The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the trip actuator is depressed for effecting tripping of the breaker, the trip arm is mounted by the cam for pivotal movement toward and away from a tripping position in response to engagement by said trip drive member and includes an inclined cam surface operative against the trip actuator to depress the actuator as the trip arm is driven toward its tripping position.

Claim 9

In a rotary handle mechanism comprising a cam having a cam surface mounted for rotary movement in a first direction along a predetermined path, cam operating means including one-way drive means for driving the cam in said first direction, a cam follower engaging the cam surface for movement in response to rotary movement of the cam and locking means operatively interconnecting the cam and the cam operating means to prevent relative movement therebetween during only the final portion of the rotary movement of the cam, the combination including an auxiliary trip assembly operatively associated with the cam operating means comprising trip actuating means mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from a trip actuating position, a trip drive member mounted for movement with the cam operating means, said cam follower being operative upon completion of the final portion of the movement of the cam along said predetermined path to engage said locking means and release the cam operating means for movement relative to the cam, said trip drive member being movable in a direction opposite said first direction by the cam operating means upon release of the cam operating means for driving the trip actuating means toward the trip actuating position.

Claim 10

In a rotary handle mechanism comprising a cam having a cam surface mounted for rotary movement in a first direction along a predetermined path, cam operating means including one-way drive means for driving the cam in said first direction, a cam follower engaging the cam surface for movement in response to rotary movement of the cam and locking means operatively interconnecting the cam and the cam operating means to prevent relative movement therebetween during only the final portion of the rotary movement of the cam, the combination including an auxiliary trip assembly operatively associated with the cam operating means comprising trip actuating means mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from a trip actuating position, a trip drive member mounted for movement with the cam operating means, said cam follower being operative upon completion of the final portion of the movement of the cam along said predetermined path to engage said locking means and release the cam operating means for movement relative to the cam, said trip drive member being movable in a direction opposite said first direction by the cam operating means upon release of the cam operating means for driving the trip actuating means toward the trip actuating position.

Claim 11

The handle mechanism of claim 8 wherein the auxiliary trip assembly is mounted in spaced overlying relationship with the cam, the trip drive member is a plate mounted by the cam operating means and the trip actuating means includes a driven portion cooperatively engaged by the plate to drive the actuating means toward a trip actuating position.

Claim 12

The handle mechanism of claim 8 wherein the trip actuating means is movable with the cam and is biased away from a trip actuating position, the trip drive member including a drive face engageable with the trip actuating means for driving the trip actuating means toward a tripping position against its bias and a returning surface for holding the trip actuating means in its tripping position during the initial portion of the movement of the cam along said predetermined path.