US3179768A - Circuit breaker with mechanically isolated trip mechanism - Google Patents

Circuit breaker with mechanically isolated trip mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
US3179768A
US3179768A US192192A US19219262A US3179768A US 3179768 A US3179768 A US 3179768A US 192192 A US192192 A US 192192A US 19219262 A US19219262 A US 19219262A US 3179768 A US3179768 A US 3179768A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
trip unit
circuit breaker
casing
trip
releasable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US192192A
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English (en)
Inventor
Leonide P Koval
Maurice E Sirois
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US192192A priority Critical patent/US3179768A/en
Priority to GB16679/63A priority patent/GB986588A/en
Priority to ES287606A priority patent/ES287606A1/es
Priority to CH553763A priority patent/CH409079A/de
Priority to FR933617A priority patent/FR1356111A/fr
Priority to DEG37660A priority patent/DE1289904B/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3179768A publication Critical patent/US3179768A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/40—Combined electrothermal and electromagnetic mechanisms

Definitions

  • the present in ention relates t-o electric circuit breakers, and particularly to electric circuit breakers of the type comprising a main molded insulating enclosure or case containing relatively fixed and movable contacts and manually operable operating mechanism therefor, including a releasable member for causing automatic opening of the contacts, and avseparately enclosed current- ⁇ responsive mechanism or trip unit contained within the main enclosure'or case and adapted tocause release of the releasable member/and automatic opening of the contacts upon the occurrence of predetermined current conditions through the circuit breaker.
  • Such separately enclosed current-responsive mechanisms or trip units are commonly adjusted or calibrated to cause Vautomatic opening of the circuit breaker upon the occurrence of particular predetermined currentconditions, before the trip unit is mounted in the main case 'of the circuit breaker. This not only facilitates the necessary ladjustments to the trip unit, but permits the changing of trip unitsby the user.
  • .It isan object of the present invention .to provide an electric circuit breaker of the type referred to comprising a pre-calibratable trip unit Whose adjustment or point of operation Vis not altered by minor variations in mounting of the tripunit inthe main casing or by minor variations in the force tending to operate the rele-asable means of the contact operating mechanism.
  • jIt is another object of the invention to provide a trip unit of the type described the setting or calibration of which is unatiected by variations in mounting or operating mechanism force and which requires no corresponding special modification o f the circuit breaker operating mechanism.k
  • a circuit breaker comprising amain casing including relatively fixed and movable contacts Iand manually operable operating mechanism therefor including a first member *releasableto cause automatic opening of the contacts, and
  • a separately'enclosed trip unit mounted in the main casing and vincluding a first restraining means for releasably restraining the first releasable member.
  • Means is also provided in the trip unit for moving said first restraining means, comprising a second releasable member, biased ICC to cause movement of the first 'restraining means, and releasably held against such movement.
  • the trip unit of the present invention further includes means for causing release of the second releasable member in response to predetermined current conditions.
  • the force exertedk by the second releasable means within the trip unit is made appreciably greater than the force normally required to move the said first restraining means.
  • the excess of the force exerted by the second releasable means over that normally required to move the first restraining means is such that ordinarily encountered variations in the force required to move the said first restraining means have no effect on the operation of the trip unit.
  • FIGURE l is a side elevation view of an electric circuit breaker incorporating the invention, a portion of the side Wall of the maincasing being broken away;
  • FIGURE 2 is an end elevation view of the trip unit of the circuit breaker of FIGURE 1, taken on the line 2-,2 of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 isa sectional view of the trip unit of the circuit breaker of FIGURE 1, taken substantially yon the line 3--3 of ⁇ FIGURE 2;
  • FIGURE '4 is aview of a portion of the mechanism of the trip unit as shown in FIGURE 3, shown in releasing position;
  • FIGURE 5 is a perspective view ofthe latching mechanisml of the tripunit of FIGURES 1-4.
  • FIGURE l the invention is shown as incorporated in a circuit breaker comprising a mainV molded insulating enclosure -or casev 1f), containing three incoming and three outgoing terminal means 11 and 12 respectively, only one of keach shown.
  • a pair of relatively movable contacts 13, 14 is provided connected between each terminal 11 and a corresponding terminal 12.
  • the contact'13 is rigidly mounted on the Aterminal conductorill, whilethe contact ⁇ 14 is mounted on a contact support 15 pivotally supported at 16 on a movable contact arm 17, and a compression spring A15A is ⁇ provided'therebetween ⁇
  • the contact arm 17 i i is rigidly supported on acontact Cross-arm 18, pivotally supported at its ends on suitable bearings, not shown. mounted in the -base of the casing ⁇ 10.
  • cross-arm 18 extends across all three poles of the circuit'breaker, and carries three contact arms 17, although only one, the central of the three, is shown in FIGURE 1.
  • '.Eaoh contact support 15 Vis Iconnected by a vflexible con- 4ductoror braidz19 to a correspondingterminal strap 20
  • a releasable member 25 is valso pivotally supported on a fixed pivot pin V26 carried by the supporting frame.
  • a pair of toggle-links 27, 28 are connected between the releasable member 25 and the contact arm 17, at pivots 29 and 30 respectively, and are interconnected by a knee pivot pin31.
  • a tension spring 32 is connected between the handle- 3 support member 23 and the knee pivot pin 31 of the toggle linkage.
  • the handle 22 is 'oscillated about its pivot 24 from the ON position shown in FIGURE 1 to the left as viewed to an OFF position, moving the tension spring 32 across the line of centers of the pins 31 and 29, moving the toggle linkage 27, 2S, to a collapsed condition, 'and moving the contact arm 17 upwardly to an OFF position.
  • the releasable member 25 has a latch portion 25A, see FIGURES 3 and 4, which is releasably held by a latch carried by the trip unit 21 in a manner to be described.
  • Subsequent resetting of the member 25 is accomplished by manually moving the handle 22 to OFF position, causing an extension 23A of the handle support member to engage the member 25 and rotate it counterclockwise ⁇ to relatched position.
  • Trip unit 'the case 35 by means of screws 37.
  • Each incoming terminal strap 2t) is xedly attached to the case 35 by means of screws 38.
  • the trip unit as a whole is xedly mounted in the case by means of screws 39 which serve to attach the flexible conductors 19 to the straps 20 and also pass through the straps and threadedly engage tapped inserts 40 in the base of the case 10.
  • the strap 12 is connected to the strap 20 by a conductor 42, which makes a complete turn about a trst magnetic core 43, extending between two generally planar magnetic side plates 44, only one shown.
  • a second magnetic core 45 is also supported between the side plates 44.
  • a loop or ring 46 of highly conductive material such as copper.
  • a thermally-responsive member comprising an elongated bimetallic strip 47, is rigidly affixed to the loop 46 by suitable means, such as by welding.
  • latching means including a common trip bar 50 of molded 1nsulating material, extending across all three poles of the 4 circuit breaker trip unit, and adapted to be rotated about its pivot 51, by the bimetallic strips 47.
  • the common trip bar 50 is also adapted to be rotated about its pivot 51 by magnetic action.
  • the side plates 44 are provided with pole extensions 44A.
  • a magnetic armature 52 is also provided at each pole, pivotally supported, independently of the trip bar 50, on the pivot pin 51.
  • Each armature 52 has an extension 52A having a portion adapted to engage a portion of the trip bar 5t) to rotate it clockwise when the armature 52 is attracted to the pole extensions 44A.
  • the molded insulating trip bar S0 includes a centrallylocated extension 50A, having a rounded end portion 50A disposed to engage an arm 53, see FIGURE 5 of the latching mechanism which will now be described.
  • the latching mechanism of the invention comprises a supporting frame 54, se'e FIGURE 5, comprising two opposed side portions 55, 56, joined by a bight portion 57, and supported within an aperture 36A, see FIGURE 2, in the cover 36.
  • the side portions 55, 56 each include an outwardly-directed tang 71, 71 respectively, having holes 72, 72', by which the frame 54 is adapted to be rigidly attached to the cover 36 of the trip unit housing by suitable means such as by screws, not shown.
  • the latching mechanism includes a primary latch member 58 pivotally supported between the sides 55, 56 on pivotal supports 59.
  • T-he primary latch member 58 includes a latching portion 58A adapted to engage the latch portion 25A of the releasable member 25.
  • a tripping or kick-off member 60 is provided, pivotally supported on a pivot pin 61, extending between the sides plates 55, 56.
  • the tripping or kick-olf member 60 includes an extension 60A having a notch 60B, providing a secondary latch surface.
  • the kick-off member 60 is releasably restrained from counter-clockwise movement by engagement of ⁇ an arm 62 of a secondary latch member 63.
  • the secondary latch member 63 is pivotally supported on pivot pin 64 extending between the sides 55, 56 of the frame 54.
  • the secondary latch member 63 is generally U-shaped, having a bight portion extending generally parallel to the pin 64, a latch arm 62, and an actuating .arm 53.
  • the secondary latch 63 is biased clockwise about its pivot pin 64 by the action of one end portion 65 of a coil spring 66, acting on a pin 67 carried by the arm 53.
  • the other end, 68, of the spring 66 engages the primary latch member 58, and biases it in a clockwise direction.
  • the primary latch member 58 includes a downwardly directed extension 58B, see FIGURE 3, which engages the pin 61 to limit movement of the member 58 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3.
  • the secondary latch member 63 at its arm 62, engages a wall of the notch 60B of the arm 60A of the kick-off member 60 as a stop to limit movement of the member 60 in counterclockwise direction. It will be observed that this provides a fixed accurately controllable amount of latch overlap of the secondary latch arm 62 and the tripping member 60.
  • a kick-off spring 70 is provided, carried by the pin 61.
  • One end 70A of the spring 70 is normally in engagement with the casing cover 36, while the other end 70B, is in engagement with an edge portion of the member 60.
  • the kick-oli member 60 For the purpose of engaging and moving the primary latch member 58, the kick-oli member 60, at its right side as viewed in FIGURE 5, includes two actuatingr projections.
  • the first suchproje'ction is designated as 60C, see FIGURE'4, and the secondl such projection is designated as 60D, also in FIGURE 4;
  • projection 60C is normally substantially in engagement with thel extension 58B of the primary latch. 58.
  • the projection 60D, of the kick-olf member 60 is normally spaced a shortdistance from a corresponding surface 58C of the member 58.
  • the latching system just described comprises a primary latch ⁇ member SS, restraining the-y releasable member 25, and asecondary latch member63; restraining the kick-ott member d0. All ofthe aforesaid members are preferably mounted on the cover member 36 of the trip unit 421. This permits these parts to be readily assembled before the cover member ismourited on the enclosure body 35.
  • the occurrence of predetermined abnormal current conditions in the circuit including terminal straps 12j and 20 and conductor 42 causes rotation of the common trip bar 50. This may occur by reason ofthe heating and deection of the bimetallic strip 4'7 as'on gradual overload currents, or by reason of the attraction of the armature 52 to the pole extensions 44A as onthe sudden high short-circuit currents. ⁇
  • Vthe projection 60A of the member llv engages the extension 58B of the member 58, providing a pry-olip action to overcome static friction of the latch 58A of the member 58 and the latched portion 25A of the member 2S.
  • Subsequent movement of the member 60 causes the projection 60D to engage the edge surface 58C of the member 58 to, move it to fully released position, releasing the member 25 to cause opening of the contacts of the breaker.
  • the parts may -be reset to permit subsequent reclosing of the contacts.
  • YSuch resetting is accomplished by moving the handle 22 counterclockwise, causing projection ⁇ 23A of theV handle-support member 23 to engage the releasable member 25 ,and rotate it also in counter-clockwise direction.
  • the kick-off spring 70 is made of such strength as to be capable of delivering a force substantially greater than that required to release the primary latch 58.
  • a multi-pole electric circuitl breaker comprising;
  • said common trip bar includingV means forcausing release of said secondary latch upon a predetermined amount of movement of said common trip, bar by said current-responsive means
  • a multi-pole electric circuit breaker comprising:
  • said common trip bar including means for causing release of said secondary latch upon a predetermined amount of movement of said common trip bar by said current-responsive means (k) said tripping member when released acting on said primary latch to cause release of said releasable member.
  • a multi-pole circuit breaker as set forth in claim 2, said tripping member having a rst portion thereof adapted to engage said primary latch member at a first point and a second portion thereof adapted to engage said primary latch at a second point, said first point of engagement being spaced farther from the pivot of said primary latch than said second point.
  • a multi-pole electric circuit breaker comprising:
  • said trip unit having a tripping member, biasing means carried by said trip unit separate from said operating mechanism acting on said tripping member and biasing said tripping member to exert a force on said primary latch, said tripping member when released acting on said primary latch to cause release n of said releasable member,
  • said trip unit having a common trip bar extend ing across all poles of said multi-pole circuit breaker
  • said common trip bar including means for causing relase of said secondary latch upon predetermined movement of said common trip bar by said current responsive means
  • said tripping member being pivotally supported between said side portions of said frame member at a point substantially closer to said back wall than said primary latch member.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
US192192A 1962-05-03 1962-05-03 Circuit breaker with mechanically isolated trip mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3179768A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US192192A US3179768A (en) 1962-05-03 1962-05-03 Circuit breaker with mechanically isolated trip mechanism
GB16679/63A GB986588A (en) 1962-05-03 1963-04-29 Improvements in multi-pole electric circuit breakers
ES287606A ES287606A1 (es) 1962-05-03 1963-05-02 Perfeccionamientos introducidos en los disyuntores eléctricos multipolares
CH553763A CH409079A (de) 1962-05-03 1963-05-02 Mehrpoliger elektrischer Ausschalter
FR933617A FR1356111A (fr) 1962-05-03 1963-05-03 Disjoncteur
DEG37660A DE1289904B (de) 1962-05-03 1963-05-03 Ausloesevorrichtung fuer einen Selbstschalter

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US192192A US3179768A (en) 1962-05-03 1962-05-03 Circuit breaker with mechanically isolated trip mechanism

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3179768A true US3179768A (en) 1965-04-20

Family

ID=22708627

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US192192A Expired - Lifetime US3179768A (en) 1962-05-03 1962-05-03 Circuit breaker with mechanically isolated trip mechanism

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3179768A (de)
CH (1) CH409079A (de)
DE (1) DE1289904B (de)
ES (1) ES287606A1 (de)
GB (1) GB986588A (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3486140A (en) * 1967-11-13 1969-12-23 Airpax Electronics Circuit breaker with positive relatch
US3903493A (en) * 1974-05-20 1975-09-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp Overload relay
US3930213A (en) * 1974-10-09 1975-12-30 Westinghouse Electric Corp Manually operable circuit interrupter with automatic current overload protection
US4885558A (en) * 1983-04-20 1989-12-05 Airpax Corporation Circuit breaker

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2349207A1 (fr) * 1976-04-21 1977-11-18 Unelec Declencheur interchangeable pour disjoncteur
DE3425996A1 (de) * 1984-07-14 1986-01-23 Licentia Gmbh Schaltschloss fuer ein schaltgeraet

Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1955327A (en) * 1930-10-20 1934-04-17 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit breaker
US2047739A (en) * 1932-03-23 1936-07-14 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit interrupter
US2047816A (en) * 1935-04-25 1936-07-14 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US2140360A (en) * 1933-10-31 1938-12-13 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit interrupter
US2401005A (en) * 1942-03-05 1946-05-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2419125A (en) * 1941-06-24 1947-04-15 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2458151A (en) * 1941-06-24 1949-01-04 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2465789A (en) * 1946-11-15 1949-03-29 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US2491959A (en) * 1946-01-18 1949-12-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Automatic trip circuit breaker
US2673908A (en) * 1951-12-29 1954-03-30 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Instantaneous trip circuit breaker
US2686242A (en) * 1952-07-26 1954-08-10 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2736010A (en) * 1956-02-21 ridgley
US2795670A (en) * 1954-02-19 1957-06-11 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2900473A (en) * 1956-12-28 1959-08-18 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Magnetic shield
US2908782A (en) * 1957-04-04 1959-10-13 Gen Electric Circuit breaker

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2586326A (en) * 1945-02-27 1952-02-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter trip device
US2821596A (en) * 1954-06-21 1958-01-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp Trip device for circuit breakers
US3136921A (en) * 1957-12-10 1964-06-09 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breakers
US3073925A (en) * 1959-06-10 1963-01-15 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US3141081A (en) * 1960-02-15 1964-07-14 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker with thermal tripping means

Patent Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2736010A (en) * 1956-02-21 ridgley
US1955327A (en) * 1930-10-20 1934-04-17 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit breaker
US2047739A (en) * 1932-03-23 1936-07-14 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit interrupter
US2140360A (en) * 1933-10-31 1938-12-13 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit interrupter
US2047816A (en) * 1935-04-25 1936-07-14 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US2458151A (en) * 1941-06-24 1949-01-04 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2419125A (en) * 1941-06-24 1947-04-15 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2401005A (en) * 1942-03-05 1946-05-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2491959A (en) * 1946-01-18 1949-12-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Automatic trip circuit breaker
US2465789A (en) * 1946-11-15 1949-03-29 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US2673908A (en) * 1951-12-29 1954-03-30 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Instantaneous trip circuit breaker
US2686242A (en) * 1952-07-26 1954-08-10 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2795670A (en) * 1954-02-19 1957-06-11 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2900473A (en) * 1956-12-28 1959-08-18 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Magnetic shield
US2908782A (en) * 1957-04-04 1959-10-13 Gen Electric Circuit breaker

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3486140A (en) * 1967-11-13 1969-12-23 Airpax Electronics Circuit breaker with positive relatch
US3903493A (en) * 1974-05-20 1975-09-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp Overload relay
US3930213A (en) * 1974-10-09 1975-12-30 Westinghouse Electric Corp Manually operable circuit interrupter with automatic current overload protection
US4885558A (en) * 1983-04-20 1989-12-05 Airpax Corporation Circuit breaker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH409079A (de) 1966-03-15
ES287606A1 (es) 1963-08-01
GB986588A (en) 1965-03-17
DE1289904B (de) 1969-02-27

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