US4032875A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit breaker
Assignee: Commander Electrical Equipment Inc
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Filing: 1976-05-27
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Granted: 1977-06-28
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Expires: 1996-05-27
Abstract
Abstract Circuit breaker having a trip arm which is released during tripping of the breaker under overcurrent conditions. One end of a contact opening arm is pivotally mounted on the trip arm. When the trip arm is released, the trip arm also contacts the other end of the contact opening arm forcing it against the contact carrier which supports the movable contact thereby opening the contacts.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold E. Belttary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:36
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/50; H01H71/501
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
338 words
A circuit breaker including in combination a housing of insulating material; a fixed contact mounted in said housing; actuating means including a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a movable contact thereon, said contact carrier pivotally engaging said actuating means at a pivot point; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing; a contact opening arm having one end pivotally mounted on said trip arm; an overcenter spring connected between said contact carrier and said trip arm; said actuating means, contact carrier, and overcenter spring forming an overcenter arrangement for closing said contacts when the spring is on one side of said pivot point and for opening said contacts when the spring is on the other side of said pivot point; said pivot point being in a position with the spring on the one side thereof when said handle is placed in a first position, and being in a position with the spring on the other side thereof when said handle is placed in a second position while said trip arm is in a set position; an overcurrent latch mechanism engaging said trip arm and maintaining said trip arm in the set position with said spring urging said trip arm toward a tripped position when said contacts are closed; and a load terminal mounted in said housing; said overcurrent latch mechanism including a current responsive member connected in circuit between the movable contact and the load terminal; said overcurrent latch mechanism being operative to disengage said trip arm in response to a predetermined current condition in said current responsive member releasing said trip arm for movement to the tripped position; movement of the trip arm to the tripped position moving the spring to the other side of said pivot point whereby said overcenter arrangement tends to cause said contacts to open; said trip arm forcing the other end of said contact opening arm against the contact carrier during movement of the trip arm to the tripped position to cause opening of said contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
338 words
A circuit breaker including in combination a housing of insulating material; a fixed contact mounted in said housing; actuating means including a manually movable handle mounted in said housing; a contact carrier with a movable contact thereon, said contact carrier pivotally engaging said actuating means at a pivot point; a trip arm pivotally mounted in said housing; a contact opening arm having one end pivotally mounted on said trip arm; an overcenter spring connected between said contact carrier and said trip arm; said actuating means, contact carrier, and overcenter spring forming an overcenter arrangement for closing said contacts when the spring is on one side of said pivot point and for opening said contacts when the spring is on the other side of said pivot point; said pivot point being in a position with the spring on the one side thereof when said handle is placed in a first position, and being in a position with the spring on the other side thereof when said handle is placed in a second position while said trip arm is in a set position; an overcurrent latch mechanism engaging said trip arm and maintaining said trip arm in the set position with said spring urging said trip arm toward a tripped position when said contacts are closed; and a load terminal mounted in said housing; said overcurrent latch mechanism including a current responsive member connected in circuit between the movable contact and the load terminal; said overcurrent latch mechanism being operative to disengage said trip arm in response to a predetermined current condition in said current responsive member releasing said trip arm for movement to the tripped position; movement of the trip arm to the tripped position moving the spring to the other side of said pivot point whereby said overcenter arrangement tends to cause said contacts to open; said trip arm forcing the other end of said contact opening arm against the contact carrier during movement of the trip arm to the tripped position to cause opening of said contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
A circuit breaker in accordance with claim 1 wherein said other end of said contact opening arm is disengaged from the trip arm and from the contact carrier when said trip arm is in the set condition; and said trip arm moves into engagement with said other end of said contact opening arm and forces said other end against the contact carrier during movement of the trip arm from the set position to the tripped position thereby urging the contact carrier to pivot about said pivot point in a direction to open the contacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
135 words
A circuit breaker in accordance with claim 2 wherein said trip arm is an elongated member pivotally mounted at one end in said housing; the other end of said trip arm is operable to engage said overcurrent latch mechanism; said spring engages said trip arm at a point intermediate the ends of the trip arm; said contact opening arm is pivotally mounted on the trip arm at a point intermediate the ends of the trip arm; and said other end of the trip arm engages the other end of the contact opening arm during movement of the trip arm to the tripped position when released from said overcurrent latch mechanism, and urges said other end of the contact opening arm against the contact carrier in a region intermediate said pivot point and the movable contact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A circuit breaker in accordance with claim 3 wherein said trip arm contains an opening in the region intermediate its ends; and the one end of said contact opening arm extends through said opening and includes an enlarged portion for holding said contact opening arm in the trip arm while permitting pivotal movement with respect thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
228 words
A circuit breaker in accordance with claim 4 wherein said contact carrier is substantially planar and moves in the plane in which it lies; said trip arm is substantially planar and moves in the plane in which it lies, said plane being spaced from but close to and parallel with the plane of the contact carrier; said contact opening arm has a planar central portion lying adjacent to the surface of the trip arm facing toward the contact carrier; said contact opening arm has a first tab at said other end extending into the plane of the trip arm for intercepting the other end of the trip arm during movement of the trip arm from the set to the tripped position; said contact opening arm has a second tab at said other end extending into the plane of the contact carrier for bearing against the contact carrier when the other end of the contact opening arm contacts the contact carrier during movement of the trip arm from the set to the tripped position; the one end of said contact opening arm is bent out of the plane of the central portion and passes through said opening in the trip arm; and said enlarged portion at the one end of the contact opening arm lies adjacent to the surface of the trip arm facing away from the contact carrier.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-27 | 1980-12-27 | 1981-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-27 | 1984-12-27 | 1985-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-27 | 1988-12-27 | 1989-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |