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US5499007A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Circuit breaker

Assignee: Heinrich Kopp GmbH and Co KG
•
Filing: 1994-04-18
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Granted: 1996-03-12
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Expires: 2014-04-18
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Abstract

Abstract A circuit breaker comprises high-duty arc-quenching means 23 and a latching mechanism 19, which is adapted to be electromagnetically and thermoelectrically unlatched by means of a snap-action bimetal disk 52 to open contacting means 21 in response to an overload. The snap-action bimetal disk 52 is held in a carrying body 32, which has a high thermal conductivity and which carries an electromagnetic exciter coil 33 and contains an associated plunger 42. For tripping in response to an overload, the plunger 42 is adapted to be actuated either electromagnetically and/or by the snap-action bimetal disk 52. The movable contact 21 will remain open when the latching mechanism 19 has been unlatched. In response to a movement of the plunger 42 out of its make position, the latching mechanism 19 is unlatched by a first arm of a two-armed lever 37, which is made of lucite and is pivoted to the carrying body 42. The contacting means 21 are adapted to be struck open by the second arm 41 of the lever 37. The second arm is integrally formed with a baffle wall 43, by which a plasma or electric arc column that is generated as the contacting means 21 are struck open is urged toward the arc-quenching means 23.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter Flohr

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 07:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/12; H01H71/40; H01H71/50; H01H71/52; H01H71/526; H01H9/00; H01H9/30; H01H9/302; H01H2071/407

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 147 words
A circuit breaker comprising: high-duty arc-quenching means and a latching mechanism, said latching mechanism adapted to be electromagnetically and thermoelectrically unlatched by a snap-action bimetal element to open contacting means in response to an overload, said snap-action bimetal element mounted in a carrying body, said body having a high thermal conductivity and carrying an electromagnetic exciter coil, said body further containing an associated plunger, said plunger adapted to be actuated by said snap-action bimetal element and electromagnetically, said latching mechanism adapted to be unlatched by a first arm of a pivoted two-armed lever in response to an actuation of said plunger, wherein the second arm of the lever is adapted to strike open said contacting means, and the second arm is provided with a baffle wall for urging toward the arc-quenching means a plasma or arc column which is generated as the contacting means are struck open.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 147 words
A circuit breaker comprising: high-duty arc-quenching means and a latching mechanism, said latching mechanism adapted to be electromagnetically and thermoelectrically unlatched by a snap-action bimetal element to open contacting means in response to an overload, said snap-action bimetal element mounted in a carrying body, said body having a high thermal conductivity and carrying an electromagnetic exciter coil, said body further containing an associated plunger, said plunger adapted to be actuated by said snap-action bimetal element and electromagnetically, said latching mechanism adapted to be unlatched by a first arm of a pivoted two-armed lever in response to an actuation of said plunger, wherein the second arm of the lever is adapted to strike open said contacting means, and the second arm is provided with a baffle wall for urging toward the arc-quenching means a plasma or arc column which is generated as the contacting means are struck open.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the two-armed lever is pivoted to the carrying body by means of a pivot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the carrying body is adapted to be fixed by means of a pivot, on which the two-armed lever is pivotally mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the two-armed lever is pivoted on that side of the carrying body which faces the contacting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the two-armed lever comprises an insulating material which releases gas under the action of an electric arc.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 13 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the two-armed lever comprises lucite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the carrying body contains a core for guiding the plunger and a displaceable armature for actuating the plunger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 40 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the snap-action bimetal element comprises a disk, which has a central through bore for receiving the plunger, which adjacent to the disk is integrally formed with a projection for engaging the disk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 46 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the snap-action bimetal element comprises a disk with a central through bore is centrally disposed in a bimetal-containing chamber in front of a core for guiding the plunger and has a convex surface in contact with said core.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 47 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein an armature for actuating the plunger extends axially between a core for guiding the plunger and the snap-action bimetal element, which is held in a bimetal-containing chamber, and the plunger is guided in the armature for actuating the plunger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 39 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein a bimetal-containing chamber for holding said bimetal element is closed by a disklike element, which is made of an electrically insulating material and has a through bore for guiding the plunger.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 45 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein an element for closing a bimetal-containing chamber for holding said bimetal element is provided with a receptacle for a conductor, which leads to a stationary contact and is connected to the exciter coil and the arc-quenching means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 34 words
A circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein a bimetal-containing chamber for holding said bimetal element and a conductor leading to a stationary contact are disposed on the same side of the carrying body.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1999-03-12 1999-09-11 2000-03-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-03-12 2003-09-11 2004-03-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-03-12 2007-09-11 2008-03-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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