US4650944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molded case circuit breaker with an improved operating mechanism having a pivot-transfer trip-free linkage
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1985-07-18
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Granted: 1987-03-17
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Expires: 2005-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A molded case circuit breaker includes a highly integrated operating mechanism having an over-center, trip-free, pivot transfer toggle mechanism for opening and closing a pair of electrical contacts in response to overload and short circuit or fault current conditions. The toggle mechanism includes a pair of stationary, spaced apart links and a pair of movable, spaced apart toggle links. Each of the movable links includes an integrally formed, first or initial pivot point formed along its surface for engagement with a surface of one of the stationary links. Each of the stationary links includes a second pivot point formed along its surface for engagement by a surface of one of the movable links. The movable links are sequentially pivotably movable during a trip operation of the circuit breaker initially about the first pivot points and subsequently about the second pivot points. The movement of the movable links about the first pivot points effect a rapid separation of the electrical contacts at the beginning of the trip operation. The movement of the movable links about the second pivot points effect a rapid acceleration of a movable electrical contact during a subsequent portion of the trip operation to increase the arc voltage and thus rapidly extinguish any electrical arc between the electrical contacts.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Tedesco
- 👤 Joseph F. Changle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:27
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/02; H01H33/42; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/50; H01H71/52; H01H71/522; H01H71/525
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An electrical circuit breaker comprising; a movable electrical contact assembly having a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and operating means for moving said movable electrical contact assembly and first electrical contact into a CLOSED position and an OPEN position relative to said second electrical contact, said operating means comprising an over-center toggle mechanism having (a) at least one movable link that is drivingly connected to said movable electrical contact assembly and has an elongated surface that defines a first pivot point, and (b) at least one stationary link that also has an elongated surface that defines a second pivot point and is engageable by the elongated surface of said movable link during a trip operation of the circuit breaker, said movable link being sequentially pivotable about said first and said second pivot points when said over-center toggle mechanism is actuated during a trip operation of the circuit breaker.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
An electrical circuit breaker comprising; a movable electrical contact assembly having a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and operating means for moving said movable electrical contact assembly and first electrical contact into a CLOSED position and an OPEN position relative to said second electrical contact, said operating means comprising an over-center toggle mechanism having (a) at least one movable link that is drivingly connected to said movable electrical contact assembly and has an elongated surface that defines a first pivot point, and (b) at least one stationary link that also has an elongated surface that defines a second pivot point and is engageable by the elongated surface of said movable link during a trip operation of the circuit breaker, said movable link being sequentially pivotable about said first and said second pivot points when said over-center toggle mechanism is actuated during a trip operation of the circuit breaker.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electrical circuit breaker as recited in claim 1 wherein said movable link moves about said first pivot point during an initial portion of the movement of said over-center toggle mechanism during said trip operation to effect the rapid separation of said first and second electrical contacts at the beginning of said trip operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electrical circuit breaker as recited in claim 1 wherein said movable link moves about said second pivot point during a subsequent portion of the movement of said over-center toggle mechanism to effect a rapid acceleration of said movable electrical contact assembly and first electrical contact away from said second electrical contact during the corresponding portion of said trip operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electrical circuit breaker as recited in claim 1 wherein said over-center toggle mechanism further comprises a pivotable, rigid cradle having a first aperture formed therethrough for receiving a cradle support pin and a second aperture formed therethrough for receiving a movable link follower pin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrical circuit breaker as recited in claim 4 wherein said movable link includes a recess formed therein for engagement with said movable link follower pin, the rotational movement of said cradle effecting a corresponding rotational movement of said movable link.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electrical circuit breaker as recited in claim 5 wherein said movable link moves about said first pivot point during the initial rotation movement of said cradle during said trip operation to effect the rapid separation of said first and second electrical contacts when said trip operation is initiated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electrical circuit breaker as recited in claim 6 wherein said movable link moves about said second pivot point during the subsequent rotational movement of said cradle during said trip operation to effect a rapid acceleration of said movable electrical contact assembly and first electrical contact away from said second contact during the corresponding portion of said trip operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electrical circuit breaker as recited in claim 1 further comprising a molded case formed from electrically insulating material within which said first and second electrical contacts, said movable electrical contact assembly and said operating means are disposed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
182 words
An electrical circuit breaker comprising: a first electrical contact that is movable; a second electrical contact; and operating means for moving said first electrical contact into CLOSED and OPEN positions relative to said second electrical contact, said operating means including an over-center toggle mechanism comprising (a) a movable link having a surface that defines a first pivot point, (b) a stationary link having a surface that defines a second pivot point and is engageable by the surface of said movable link during a trip operation of the circuit breaker, and (c) a pivotable, rigid cradle having a first aperture formed therethrough for receiving a rotatable cradle support pin and a second aperture formed therethrough for receiving a movable link follower pin, said movable link being drivingly coupled to said movable first electrical contact and having a recess formed therein for engagement with said movable link follower pin, said movable link in response to the movement of said cradle and said link follower pin being sequentially pivotable about said first and said second pivot points during a trip operation of the circuit breaker.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
182 words
An electrical circuit breaker comprising: a first electrical contact that is movable; a second electrical contact; and operating means for moving said first electrical contact into CLOSED and OPEN positions relative to said second electrical contact, said operating means including an over-center toggle mechanism comprising (a) a movable link having a surface that defines a first pivot point, (b) a stationary link having a surface that defines a second pivot point and is engageable by the surface of said movable link during a trip operation of the circuit breaker, and (c) a pivotable, rigid cradle having a first aperture formed therethrough for receiving a rotatable cradle support pin and a second aperture formed therethrough for receiving a movable link follower pin, said movable link being drivingly coupled to said movable first electrical contact and having a recess formed therein for engagement with said movable link follower pin, said movable link in response to the movement of said cradle and said link follower pin being sequentially pivotable about said first and said second pivot points during a trip operation of the circuit breaker.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electrical circuit breaker as recited in claim 9 wherein said cradle rotates in response to said trip operation and effects a corresponding movement of said movable link.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electrical circuit breaker as recited in claim 9 wherein said movable link moves about said first pivot point during an initial portion of the movement of said over-center toggle mechanism during said trip operation to effect a rapid separation of said first and second electrical contacts when said trip operation is initiated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electrical circuit breaker as recited in claim 11 wherein said movable link moves about said second pivot point during a subsequent portion of the movement of said over-center toggle mechanism during said trip operation to effect a rapid acceleration of said movable first electrical contact away from said second electrical contact during the corresponding portion of said trip operation.
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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) | 1990-03-16 | 1990-09-15 | 1991-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-16 | 1994-09-15 | 1995-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-16 | 1998-09-15 | 1999-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |