PC-board mounted thermal breaker

Claim 2

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulated housing; first, second, and third terminal means extending through said housing, wherein said first terminal is connected to a first electrical circuit and said second terminal is connected to a second electrical circuit; a first bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal; a first contact member coupled to said first bimetallic element; a second bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; a second contact member coupled to said second bimetallic element; a third contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said third terminal; means mounting said third contact member for movement alternately into and out of contact with said first and second contact members, respectively; and means biasing said third contact member substantially through the center of movement of said third contact member to alternately bias said third contact member in opposite pivotal directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said third contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said third contact member is biased into electrical contact with said second contact member; said first bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough against the action of said biasing means to move said third contact member from said first position toward said second position; and said second bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough against the action of said biasing means to move said third contact member from said second position toward said first position.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrically insulated housing of said circuit breaker includes a sawtooth surface around its inner perimeter, upon which said first and second bimetallic element alternately rest when said circuit breaker is in said first and second positions, respectively.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing further includes means for providing access to said first and second terminals for adjustment of the trip ratings of said first and second contact members, respectively.

Claim 5

A multipole circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulated housing; a plurality of pole units in said housing, each pole unit having substantially the same breaker mechanism, and each breaker mechanism comprising: first and second terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member; and means biasing said second contact member substantially through the center of movement of said second contact member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means; said multipole breaker further comprising: a common reset means coupled to each of said plurality of breaker mechanism and operable to return all of said second contact members to said first position when said second contact members are in said second position.

Claim 6

A multipole circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulated housing; a plurality of pole units in said housing, each pole unit having substantially the same breaker mechanism, and each breaker mechanism comprising: first and second terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member; and means biasing said second contact member substantially through the center of movement of said second contact member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means; said multipole breaker further comprising: a common reset means coupled to each of said plurality of breaker mechanism and operable to return all of said second contact members to said first position when said second contact members are in said second position.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means coupling said reset means in common to all of said breaker mechanisms to move all of said second contact members from said first position to said second position upon application of a sufficient overcurrent through any of said breaker mechanisms.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said circuit breaker further comprises reset means operable to return said second contact member to said first position from said second position, said reset means including a reset member extending into said housing and being movable therein, said reset member having a plurality of openings therein through which each of said biasing means passes, said reset member and said biasing means engaging each other to move each of said second contact members between said first and second positions substantially concurrently.

Claim 9

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing having a sawtooth surface formed in the lower portion thereof; first and second terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal, wherein said bimetallic element rests on said sawtooth surface when not in a deformed state; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member; and biasing means coupled to said second contact member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means.

Claim 10

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing having a sawtooth surface formed in the lower portion thereof; first and second terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal, wherein said bimetallic element rests on said sawtooth surface when not in a deformed state; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member; and biasing means coupled to said second contact member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means.

Claim 11

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing; first and second terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; means for providing access through said housing to said first terminal for adjustment of the first contact member, to thereby adjust the trip rating of said breaker; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member; and biasing means coupled to said second contact member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means.

Claim 12

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing; first and second terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; means for providing access through said housing to said first terminal for adjustment of the first contact member, to thereby adjust the trip rating of said breaker; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member; and biasing means coupled to said second contact member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means.

Claim 13

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 8, wherein said first terminal includes a bendable tap on the housed portion thereof.

Claim 14

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 9, wherein said bimetallic element is L-shaped, having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion abuts said bendable tab of said first terminal.

Claim 15

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing; first and second terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member, wherein said mounting means comprises a blade member with an opening located along the longitudinal axis thereof; and bias means comprising an overcenter spring having one end portion coupled to said second terminal and a second end portion coupled to said blade member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means.

Claim 16

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing; first and second terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member, wherein said mounting means comprises a blade member with an opening located along the longitudinal axis thereof; and bias means comprising an overcenter spring having one end portion coupled to said second terminal and a second end portion coupled to said blade member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means.

Claim 17

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 8 or 11, wherein said circuit breaker housing includes a sawtooth surface in the lower portion of said housing, upon which said bimetallic element rests when not in a deformed state.

Claim 18

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 8 or 11, wherein said circuit breaker further comprises reset means operable to return said second contact member to said first position from said second position, said reset means including a reset member extending into said housing and being movable therein, and wherein said reset member engages said biasing means to move said second contact member between said first and second positions.

Claim 19

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 13, wherein said reset member has an opening therein through which said biasing means passes.

Claim 20

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing having a sawtooth surface formed in the lower portion thereof; first and second terminal means through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit, said first terminal means including a housed portion and an outside portion, wherein said housed portion includes a bendable tab; a first contact member; means for providing access through said housing to said first terminal, adjacent said bendable tab, for adjustment of said first contact member to thereby adjust the trip rating of said breaker; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member, wherein said mounting means comprises a blade with an opening located along the longitudinal axis thereof; biasing means comprising an overcenter spring, having one end coupled to said second terminal, and its other end coupled to said blade member through said opening to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; a bimetallic element located in said housing and coupled to said first contact member and electrically coupled to said first terminal, said bimetallic element having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion abuts said bendable tab and said second portion rests on said sawtooth surface when not in a deformed state, said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means; and reset means for resetting said second contact, said reset means being operable to return said second contact member to said first position when said second contact member is in said second position.

Claim 21

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing having a sawtooth surface formed in the lower portion thereof; first and second terminal means through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit, said first terminal means including a housed portion and an outside portion, wherein said housed portion includes a bendable tab; a first contact member; means for providing access through said housing to said first terminal, adjacent said bendable tab, for adjustment of said first contact member to thereby adjust the trip rating of said breaker; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member, wherein said mounting means comprises a blade with an opening located along the longitudinal axis thereof; biasing means comprising an overcenter spring, having one end coupled to said second terminal, and its other end coupled to said blade member through said opening to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; a bimetallic element located in said housing and coupled to said first contact member and electrically coupled to said first terminal, said bimetallic element having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion abuts said bendable tab and said second portion rests on said sawtooth surface when not in a deformed state, said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means; and reset means for resetting said second contact, said reset means being operable to return said second contact member to said first position when said second contact member is in said second position.

Claim 22

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 15, wherein said reset means includes a reset member extending into said housing and being movable therein, said reset member having an opening therein through which said biasing means passes, said reset member and said biasing means engaging each other to move said second contact member between said first and second positions.

Claim 23

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 7, 8, 11 or 15, further comprising means for exerting a restraining force to inhibit deformation of said bimetallic element until the deforming force on said element exceeds said restraining force and releases said bimetallic element to move said second contact member toward said second position.

Claim 24

A circuit breaker as recited in claim 17, wherein said means for exerting said restraining force comprising a stub member extending from an inner wall of said housing inwardly to and into the path of movement of said bias means to inhibit movement of said bias means.

Claim 25

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 7, 8, 11, or 15, wherein said first and second terminal means are spaced apart from each other a distance that is an integer multiple of 0.025" to permit mounting said circuit breaker to a printed circuit board made by computer-aided design techniques.

Claim 26

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing; first, second and third terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; a third contact member in said housing and electrically coupled to said third terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first and third contact members; and biasing means coupled to said second contact member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said third contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means.

Claim 27

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing; first, second and third terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; a third contact member in said housing and electrically coupled to said third terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first and third contact members; and biasing means coupled to said second contact member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said third contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means.

Claim 28

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 20, wherein said first, second and third terminal means are spaced from each other by amounts that are integer multiples of 0.025" to permit mounting said circuit breaker to a printed circuit board made by computer-aided design techniques.

Claim 29

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing; first and second terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member; biasing means coupled to said second contact member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means; and means for exerting a restraining force to inhibit deformation of said bimetallic element until the deforming force on said element exceeds said restraining force and releases said bimetallic element to move said second contact member toward said second position.

Claim 30

A circuit breaker, comprising: an electrically insulating housing; first and second terminal means extending through said housing for connecting the breaker to an electrical circuit; a bimetallic element located in said housing and electrically coupled to said first terminal; a first contact member coupled to said bimetallic element; a second contact member located in said housing and electrically coupled to said second terminal; means for mounting said second contact member for movement into and out of contact with said first contact member; biasing means coupled to said second contact member to alternately bias said second contact member in opposite directions between first and second positions, wherein in said first position, said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said first contact member, and in said second position, said second contact member is biased out of electrical contact with said first contact member; said bimetallic element being deformed upon application of a sufficient overcurrent therethrough to move said second contact member from said first position toward said second position against the action of said biasing means; and means for exerting a restraining force to inhibit deformation of said bimetallic element until the deforming force on said element exceeds said restraining force and releases said bimetallic element to move said second contact member toward said second position.

Claim 31

A circuit breaker as recited in claim 22, wherein said means for exerting said restraining force comprises a stub member extending from an inner wall of said housing inwardly to and into the path of movement of said bias means to inhibit movement of said bias means.

Claim 32

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 22, wherein said circuit breaker housing includes a sawtooth surface in the lower portion of said housing, upon which said bimetallic element rests when not in a deformed state.

Claim 33

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 22, wherein said mounting means comprises a blade member with an opening located along the longitudinal axis thereof; and said bias means comprises an overcenter spring, wherein one portion of said overcenter spring is coupled to said second terminal, and the other end portion of said overcenter spring is coupled to said mounting means through said opening.

Claim 34

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 22 or 25, further comprising third terminal means extending through said housing for connection to an electrical circuit and a third contact member in said housing electrically coupled to said third terminal; wherein said second contact member is biased into electrical contact with said third contact member when said second contact member is in said second position.

Claim 35

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 26, wherein said circuit breaker further comprises reset means operable to return said second contact member to said first position from said second position, said reset means including a reset member extending into said housing and being movable therein, and wherein said reset member engages said biasing means to move said second contact member between said first and second positions.

Claim 36

A circuit breaker, as recited in claim 27, wherein said reset member has an opening therein through which said biasing means passes.