US3919674A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Accessory apparatus for tripping an electric circuit breaker
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1974-11-26
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-11-26
Abstract
Abstract An accessory apparatus package for electric circuit breakers includes a first pivotal lever latching a slide in a reset position. Either one of two trip solenoids acts on this lever to unlatch the slide. A single tension spring is connected between the slide and the lever. The unlatched slide is propelled to an actuated position by the spring, and, in the process, pivots the lever into tripping impact with the circuit breaker latch. An optional second pivotal lever and trip solenoid act through the first lever to also unlatch the slide. All parts are operatively mounted by a common support.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent Paul Acampora
- 👤 David Barton Powell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H83/00; H01H83/20; H01H83/12; H01H2083/205; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/1072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
Accessory apparatus for tripping an electric circuit breaker, said apparatus comprising, in combination: A. a support for mounting attachment to the circuit breaker; B. first and second members mounted by said support for movements between respective reset and actuated positions; C. latch means carried by said second member for releasably latching said first member in its reset position while said second member is assuming its reset position; D. a tension spring connected between said first and second members; E. tripping means carried by one of said first and second members for movement therewith into tripping engagement with a circuit breaker latch as said one member is propelled to its actuated position by said spring; F. a trip solenoid mounted on said support and having a plunger acting to move said second member away from its reset position against the bias of said spring and thereby unlatch said first member for movement to its actuated position under the influence of said spring; and G. reset means acting to return said first member from its actuated position to its reset position, 1. said spring pulling said second member back to its reset position as said first member is returned to its reset position to thereby bring said latch means into latching engagement with said first member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
Accessory apparatus for tripping an electric circuit breaker, said apparatus comprising, in combination: A. a support for mounting attachment to the circuit breaker; B. first and second members mounted by said support for movements between respective reset and actuated positions; C. latch means carried by said second member for releasably latching said first member in its reset position while said second member is assuming its reset position; D. a tension spring connected between said first and second members; E. tripping means carried by one of said first and second members for movement therewith into tripping engagement with a circuit breaker latch as said one member is propelled to its actuated position by said spring; F. a trip solenoid mounted on said support and having a plunger acting to move said second member away from its reset position against the bias of said spring and thereby unlatch said first member for movement to its actuated position under the influence of said spring; and G. reset means acting to return said first member from its actuated position to its reset position, 1. said spring pulling said second member back to its reset position as said first member is returned to its reset position to thereby bring said latch means into latching engagement with said first member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said tripping means is carried by said second member, and said apparatus further includes an arm secured to said first member for movement therewith, said arm disposed to engage and propel said second member to its actuated position as said first member is propelled by said spring to its actuated position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
a UVR solenoid mounted to said bracket, said solenoid having a plunger,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
a UVR solenoid mounted to said bracket, said solenoid having a plunger,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said second member includes means engaging said solenoid plunger to reseat said plunger as said second member is returned to its reset position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
a third member moveably mounted by said support, said third member connected to said plunger for attraction to a reset position by the magnetic forces developed by said solenoid in response to energization by line voltage levels above a predetermined minimum,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
a third member moveably mounted by said support, said third member connected to said plunger for attraction to a reset position by the magnetic forces developed by said solenoid in response to energization by line voltage levels above a predetermined minimum,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 1, which further includes first and second trip solenoids, both mounted on said support and having plungers acting to move said second member away from its reset position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
a spring connected to said bracket and acting in opposition to said solenoid to urge said third member to an actuated position, anD
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
a spring connected to said bracket and acting in opposition to said solenoid to urge said third member to an actuated position, anD
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
means carried by said third member for engaging and moving said second member away from its reset position as said third member moves to its actuated position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
means carried by said third member for engaging and moving said second member away from its reset position as said third member moves to its actuated position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said first and second trip solenoids are mounted on said support with their plungers in end-to-end relation, whereby said plunger of said first trip solenoid acts directly on said second member and said plunger of said second trip solenoid acts on said second member through said plunger of said first trip solenoid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said second member includes means engaging said first solenoid plunger to reseat it and said second solenoid pluNger as said second member is returned to its reset position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 4, which further includes a third trip solenoid mounted on said support and having a plunger acting to move said second member away from its reset position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 7, which further includes a third member mounted on said support for movement between reset and actuated positions, said plunger of said third solenoid acting on said third member, said third member carrying means for engaging and moving said second member away from its reset position as said third member moves away from its reset position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein said tripping means is carried by said second member, and said apparatus further includes an arm secured to said first member for movement therewith, said arm disposed to engage and propel said second member to its actuated position as said first member is propelled to its actuated position, said arm engaging and returning said third member from its actuated position to its reset position as said first member is returned from its actuated position to its reset position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein said first member is slideably mounted by said support, and said second and third members are pivotally mounted by said support.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus defined in claim 10, which further includes a post mounted by said support, said post pivotally mounting said second and third members in vertically spaced relation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
159 words
Accessory apparatus for tripping an electric circuit breaker, said apparatus comprising, in combination: A. a support for mounting attachment to the circuit breaker; B. first and second members mounted by said support for movements between respective reset and actuated positions; C. latch means carried by said second member for releasably latching said first member in its reset position while said second member is assuming its reset position; D. a tension spring connected between said first and second members; E. tripping means carried by one of said first and second members for movement therewith into tripping engagement with the circuit breaker latch as said one member is propelled to its actuated position by said spring; and F. trip initiating means mounted on said support and acting to move said second member away from its reset position against the bias of said spring and thereby unlatch said first member for movement to its actuated position under the influence of said spring.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
159 words
Accessory apparatus for tripping an electric circuit breaker, said apparatus comprising, in combination: A. a support for mounting attachment to the circuit breaker; B. first and second members mounted by said support for movements between respective reset and actuated positions; C. latch means carried by said second member for releasably latching said first member in its reset position while said second member is assuming its reset position; D. a tension spring connected between said first and second members; E. tripping means carried by one of said first and second members for movement therewith into tripping engagement with the circuit breaker latch as said one member is propelled to its actuated position by said spring; and F. trip initiating means mounted on said support and acting to move said second member away from its reset position against the bias of said spring and thereby unlatch said first member for movement to its actuated position under the influence of said spring.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein said tripping means is carried by said second member, and said first member having an extension engaging and propelling said second member to its actuated position as said first member is propelled to its actuated position by said spring.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
72 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein said trip initiating means comprises first and second shunt trip solenoids mounted on said support with their plungers in end-to-end relation, whereby said plunger of said solenoid acts directly on said second member to move same away from its reset position and said plunger of said second solenoid acts through said first solenoid plunger to move said second member away from its reset position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein said trip initiating means is in the form of a UVR sub-assembly including
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
75 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 15, which further includes reset means acting to return said first member from its actuated position to its reset position, said spring pulling said second member back to its reset position and said first member is returned to its reset position; and a resilient tab carried by said third member to return said third member to its reset position as said first member is returned to its reset position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 16, which further includes a post carried by said support and independently pivotally mounting said second and third members in vertically spaced relation, said first member slidably mounted by said support.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 16, wherein said tripping means is carried by said second member and said extension of said first member engages and propels said second member to its actuated position as said first member is propelled to its actuated postion by said spring.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 15, which further includes a shunt trip solenoid mounted on said support, said shunt trip solenoid having a plunger acting to move said second member away from its reset position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
70 words
The accessory apparatus defined in claim 15, which further includes first and second shunt trip solenoids mounted on said support with their plungers in end-to-end relation, whereby said plunger of said first solenoid acts directly on said second member to move same away from its reset position and said plunger of said second solenoid acts through said first solenoid plunger to move said second member away from its reset position.
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) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |