US4056798A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Current limiting circuit breaker
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1975-09-23
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Granted: 1977-11-01
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Expires: 1995-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A circuit breaker includes a slotted magnetic device having a plurality of spaced slotted conductive plates and a moving contact arm positioned within the slot when the circuit breaker is in a closed circuit position so that current flowing through the contact arm has a component in a vertical direction with respect to the slot. An overcurrent condition through the circuit breaker causes magnetic flux to be generated within the slotted magnetic device which develops a force to drive the moving contact arm from the front to the rear of the slot in a direction generally parallel to the bottom of the slot, thereby actuating the circuit breaker from a closed circuit position to an open circuit position. The circuit breaker also includes an arc-extinguishing device including a plurality of apertured conductive plates. The moving contact arm includes a probe member extending into the apertures of the plates when the circuit breaker is in a closed circuit position.
Inventors
- 👤 Franklin S. Malick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H77/00; H01H77/02; H01H77/10; H01H77/107; H01H77/108
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A circuit interrupter, comprising: a pair of separable contacts; means supporting said separable contacts and operable to actuate said contacts between open and closed positions to interrupt current flow therebetween; and a magnetic drive structure comprising a magnetic device comprising a plurality of slotted plates of magnetic material forming an elongated slot having a top and a bottom, said slotted plates being electrically insulated from each other and being spaced apart at unequal intervals to form a plurality of insulating gaps; said supporting means comprising a contact arm carrying one of said contacts and extending into said slot when said contacts are in a closed circuit position; the current through said circuit interrupter when in a closed circuit position passing through said contact arm and including a component of current flow in a vertical direction with respect to said slot; an overcurrent condition through said circuit interrupter above a predetermined value generating magnetic flux in said magnetic device to produce a force acting on said contact arm to separate said contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A circuit interrupter, comprising: a pair of separable contacts; means supporting said separable contacts and operable to actuate said contacts between open and closed positions to interrupt current flow therebetween; and a magnetic drive structure comprising a magnetic device comprising a plurality of slotted plates of magnetic material forming an elongated slot having a top and a bottom, said slotted plates being electrically insulated from each other and being spaced apart at unequal intervals to form a plurality of insulating gaps; said supporting means comprising a contact arm carrying one of said contacts and extending into said slot when said contacts are in a closed circuit position; the current through said circuit interrupter when in a closed circuit position passing through said contact arm and including a component of current flow in a vertical direction with respect to said slot; an overcurrent condition through said circuit interrupter above a predetermined value generating magnetic flux in said magnetic device to produce a force acting on said contact arm to separate said contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A circuit interrupter as recited in claim 1 wherein the portion of said contact arm carrying said vertical component of current flow is located, when in a closed circuit position, within said slot in a region in which said slotted plates are closely spaced relative to other regions of said slot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
168 words
A circuit interrupter, comprising: a pair of separable contacts; means supporting said separable contacts and operable to actuate said contacts between open and closed positions to interrupt current flow therebetween; a magnetic drive structure comprising a magnetic device having a slot therein, said slot having an open top and a closed bottom; and a contact arm carrying one of said contacts and extending into said slot when said contacts are in a closed circuit position; said separable contacts engaging each other at a point closer to the closed bottom of said slot than to the top, the current flow through said circuit interrupter when in a closed position passing through said contact arm and said engaged contacts so as to include a substantial component of said current flow in a vertical direction with respect to said slot; an overcurrent condition through said circuit interrupter above a predetermined value generating magnetic flux in said magnetic device to produce a force acting on said contact arm to separate said contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
168 words
A circuit interrupter, comprising: a pair of separable contacts; means supporting said separable contacts and operable to actuate said contacts between open and closed positions to interrupt current flow therebetween; a magnetic drive structure comprising a magnetic device having a slot therein, said slot having an open top and a closed bottom; and a contact arm carrying one of said contacts and extending into said slot when said contacts are in a closed circuit position; said separable contacts engaging each other at a point closer to the closed bottom of said slot than to the top, the current flow through said circuit interrupter when in a closed position passing through said contact arm and said engaged contacts so as to include a substantial component of said current flow in a vertical direction with respect to said slot; an overcurrent condition through said circuit interrupter above a predetermined value generating magnetic flux in said magnetic device to produce a force acting on said contact arm to separate said contacts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A circuit interrupter as recited in claim 3 wherein said magnetic device comprises a plurality of slotted plates of magnetic material forming an elongated slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A circuit interrupter as recited in claim 4 wherein said slotted plates are electrically insulated from each other and are spaced apart to form a plurality of insulating gaps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A circuit interrupter as recited in claim 5 wherein said slotted plates are spaced at unequal intervals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A circuit interrupter as recited in claim 6 wherein the portion of said contact arm carrying said vertical component of current flow is located, when in a closed circuit position, within said slot in a region in which said slotted plates are closely spaced relative to other regions of said slot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A circuit interrupter as recited in claim 3 further comprising an arc-extinguishing structure supported in proximity to said contacts to effect extinction of an arc drawn between said contacts during an opening operation of said circuit interrupter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A circuit interrupter as recited in claim 8 wherein said arc-extinguishing structure comprises a plurality of spaced arc-extinguishing plates disposed about a path defined by said arc so as to absorb energy from said arc.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A circuit interrupter as recited in claim 9 wherein said arc-extinguishing plates are formed from electrically conductive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A circuit interrupter as recited in claim 10 wherein said arc-extinguishing plates comprise means defining a plurality of apertures and said contact arm comprises a probe member extending through said apertures when said contact arm is in a closed circuit position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit interrupter as recited in claim 11 further comprising insulating positioning means engaging said arc-extinguishing plates and said slotted plates in spaced relationship to form a unitary current limiting structure.
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) | 1980-10-31 | 1981-05-02 | 1981-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-31 | 1985-05-02 | 1985-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-31 | 1989-05-02 | 1989-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |