US4062052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit breaker with improved delay
Assignee: Airpax Electronics Inc
•
Filing: 1976-05-07
•
Granted: 1977-12-06
•
Expires: 1996-05-07
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a magnetic circuit breaker having improved delay characteristics and particularly improved pulse tolerance. The trip coil of the breaker is spaced from the magnetic pole piece of a delay tube by a non-conductive, non-magnetic gap and the delay core is elongated. An inertia wheel is mechanically coupled to the trip armature to further increase pulse tolerance so as to reduce nuisance tripping in the presence of high but very short term overcurrents. The circuit breaker provides a significantly improved motor protection characteristic.
Inventors
- 👤 George S. Harper
- 👤 Lyal N. Merriken
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/12; H01H71/24; H01H71/34; H01H71/345; H01H71/44; H01H71/446
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A circuit breaker comprising a pair of electrical contacts, a handle, a collapsible toggle coupling said handle to one of said contacts, a movable armature having a portion adapted to engage and trip said toggle, a frame, a hollow delay tube carried by said frame and having a magnetic pole piece at one end, a magnetic core movable in said delay tube, a trip coil surrounding a portion of said trip tube, said coil being spaced from the plane of the near end of said pole piece by a non-conductive, non-magnetic gap having a length of from about one-fifteenth to about one-sixth the overall interior length of said delay tube, and spring means in said delay tube normally biasing said core into a position away from said pole piece, said core when in said position extending from the end of said delay tube remote from said pole piece to a point short of a plane containing the electrical center of said trip coil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A circuit breaker comprising a pair of electrical contacts, a handle, a collapsible toggle coupling said handle to one of said contacts, a movable armature having a portion adapted to engage and trip said toggle, a frame, a hollow delay tube carried by said frame and having a magnetic pole piece at one end, a magnetic core movable in said delay tube, a trip coil surrounding a portion of said trip tube, said coil being spaced from the plane of the near end of said pole piece by a non-conductive, non-magnetic gap having a length of from about one-fifteenth to about one-sixth the overall interior length of said delay tube, and spring means in said delay tube normally biasing said core into a position away from said pole piece, said core when in said position extending from the end of said delay tube remote from said pole piece to a point short of a plane containing the electrical center of said trip coil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1 wherein said non-conductive, non-magnetic gap comprises an air gap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 2 wherein said armature is pivoted to said frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 2 wherein said spring means comprises a helical compression spring between said pole piece and said core.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 4 wherein said core is stepped from a larger to a smaller diameter to define a shoulder intermediate its ends, said spring engaging said shoulder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1 including an inertial member coupled to said armature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 6 wherein said inertial member comprises an inertial wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 7 wherein said inertia wheel carries a crank pin, said armature having a slot slidably receiving said crank pin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
A protection circuit comprising a source of electrical power, a motor, a circuit breaker connected in series between said source and motor, said circuit breaker comprising a pair of electrical contacts, a handle, a collapsible toggle coupling said handle to one of said contacts, a movable armature having a portion adapted to engage and trip said toggle, a frame, a hollow delay tube carried by said frame and having a magnetic pole piece at one end, a magnetic core movable in said delay tube, spring means in said tube normally biasing said core away from said pole piece, and a trip coil surrounding a portion of said trip tube, said coil being spaced from the plane of the near end of said pole piece by a non-conductive, non-magnetic gap having a length of from about one-fifteenth to about one-sixth the overall interior length of said delay tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
A protection circuit comprising a source of electrical power, a motor, a circuit breaker connected in series between said source and motor, said circuit breaker comprising a pair of electrical contacts, a handle, a collapsible toggle coupling said handle to one of said contacts, a movable armature having a portion adapted to engage and trip said toggle, a frame, a hollow delay tube carried by said frame and having a magnetic pole piece at one end, a magnetic core movable in said delay tube, spring means in said tube normally biasing said core away from said pole piece, and a trip coil surrounding a portion of said trip tube, said coil being spaced from the plane of the near end of said pole piece by a non-conductive, non-magnetic gap having a length of from about one-fifteenth to about one-sixth the overall interior length of said delay tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A protection circuit according to claim 9 wherein said motor comprises an induction motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A protection circuit according to claim 10 wherein said motor comprises a variable speed induction motor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A protection circuit according to claim 9 wherein said core when normally biased by said spring means extends from the end of said delay tube remote from said pole piece to a point short of a plane containing the electrical center of said trip coil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A protection circuit according to claim 12 including an inertial member coupled to said armature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A protection circuit according to claim 13 wherein said inertial member comprises an inertia wheel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A protection circuit according to claim 14 wherein said inertia wheel carries a crank pin, said armature having a slot slidably receiving said crank pin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A protection circuit according to claim 12 wherein said core is spaced from said pole piece by from approximately one-sixth to approximately four-fifteenths the interior length of said delay tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A protection circuit according to claim 9 including a fuse in series with said motor and circuit breaker.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3517357A
Cited
US3638157A
Cited
US3689855A
Cited
US3777294A
Cited
US3987340A
Cited
US3959755A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-05 | 1981-06-06 | 1981-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-05 | 1985-06-06 | 1985-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-05 | 1989-06-06 | 1989-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |