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US4646200A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Circuit breaker support saddle with removable phase barriers

Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1985-11-27
•
Granted: 1987-02-24
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Expires: 2005-11-27
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Abstract

Abstract Circuit breaker support saddles for electrical load centers and panel boards are fabricated from a single thermoplastic molded structure. The saddle contains integrally formed posts for supporting the power bus and neutral terminal conductors along with a plurality of circuit breaker hooks. To accommodate for varying numbers of circuit breakers when mounted to the saddle, a plurality of thermoplastic modular phase barriers are provided for supporting the circuit breaker branch strap conductors. The phase barriers include integrally-formed pedestals, posts and stops to facilitate down-loaded robotic assembly of the branch straps to the saddle during the automated manufacturing process.

Inventors

  • 👤 Andre J. M'Sadoques
  • 👤 Joseph F. Rich
  • 👤 George L. Shuttleworth

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 09:00
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02B; H02B1/00; H02B1/015; H02B1/04; H02B1/056

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 239 words
A modular phase barrier assembly including a molded plastic circuit breaker support saddle comprising: a molded plastic circuit breaker support saddle having insulative phase barrier members thereon supporting main bus conductors and branch strap conductors; each phase barrier member comprising a molded plastic support defining a top surface, a bottom surface and a pair of opposing ends, said plastic support having access means through both of said surfaces for passage of a molded case circuit breaker connector stab; a plurality of planar walls integrally formed within said plastic support and extending upwards from said top surface to provide electrical insulation between a plurality of branch strap conductors when mounted on said top surface; a plurality of post means integrally formed within said plastic support for guiding and supporting said branch strap conductors on said top surface; rail means integrally formed within said plastic support and extending from said bottom surface and attaching said plastic support to corresponding support track means extending from a top surface of said plastic circuit breaker support saddle, said rail means and said track means further provide electrical insulation between said main bus conductors and said branch strap conductors; and a step integrally formed at one of said support ends for receiving an end integrally formed in a separate plastic support whereby a plurality of said plastic supports and said separate plastic supports can be abuttingly assembled together on said plastic circuit breaker support saddle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 239 words
A modular phase barrier assembly including a molded plastic circuit breaker support saddle comprising: a molded plastic circuit breaker support saddle having insulative phase barrier members thereon supporting main bus conductors and branch strap conductors; each phase barrier member comprising a molded plastic support defining a top surface, a bottom surface and a pair of opposing ends, said plastic support having access means through both of said surfaces for passage of a molded case circuit breaker connector stab; a plurality of planar walls integrally formed within said plastic support and extending upwards from said top surface to provide electrical insulation between a plurality of branch strap conductors when mounted on said top surface; a plurality of post means integrally formed within said plastic support for guiding and supporting said branch strap conductors on said top surface; rail means integrally formed within said plastic support and extending from said bottom surface and attaching said plastic support to corresponding support track means extending from a top surface of said plastic circuit breaker support saddle, said rail means and said track means further provide electrical insulation between said main bus conductors and said branch strap conductors; and a step integrally formed at one of said support ends for receiving an end integrally formed in a separate plastic support whereby a plurality of said plastic supports and said separate plastic supports can be abuttingly assembled together on said plastic circuit breaker support saddle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 48 words
The modular phase barrier assembly including a molded plastic circuit breaker support saddle of claim 1 wherein said rail means comprises an inverted U-shaped rail, said rail further comprising a pair of legs spaced and in press-fit attachment to said support track on said plastic circuit breaker saddle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
The modular phase barrier assembly including a molded plastic circuit breaker support saddle of claim 1 further including pedestal means integrally formed on said plastic support and having recesses formed therein, said recesses receiving a dimple formed on each of said branch strap conductors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 43 words
The modular phase barrier assembly including a molded plastic circuit breaker support saddle of claim 3 wherein one of said post means is positioned on said top surface opposite said pedestal means for contacting a front end of one of said branch straps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
The modular phase barrier assembly including a molded plastic circuit breaker support saddle of claim 1 wherein said access means comprises a rectangular opening intermediate both ends of said support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The modular phase barrier assembly including a molded plastic circuit breaker support saddle of claim 1 wherein said rail means is integrally formed within said plastic support subjacent said step.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3128142A Cited
US3278807A Cited
US3769553A Cited
US4118754A Cited
US4118754B1 Cited
US4167769A Cited
US4167769B1 Cited
US4251851A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-02-23 1990-08-25 1991-02-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-02-23 1994-08-25 1995-02-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-02-23 1998-08-25 1999-02-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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