US3703694A - Contact operating mechanism for contact breaker - Google Patents

Contact operating mechanism for contact breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
US3703694A
US3703694A US193915A US3703694DA US3703694A US 3703694 A US3703694 A US 3703694A US 193915 A US193915 A US 193915A US 3703694D A US3703694D A US 3703694DA US 3703694 A US3703694 A US 3703694A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
housing
latch assembly
arms
slide member
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
US193915A
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English (en)
Inventor
John W Bullock
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.)
Arrow Hart Inc
Original Assignee
Arrow Hart Inc
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 Arrow Hart Inc filed Critical Arrow Hart Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3703694A publication Critical patent/US3703694A/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
    • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
    • H01H73/22—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release
    • H01H73/30—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide
    • 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
    • H01H71/14—Electrothermal mechanisms
    • H01H71/16—Electrothermal mechanisms with bimetal element
    • H01H71/161—Electrothermal mechanisms with bimetal element with helically or spirally wound bimetal

Definitions

  • a contact closure mechanism for a circuit breaker has a pair of contact arms bearing contacts which are pivotally mounted at their mid-sections on the ends of outwardly extending projections formed on a member slidable along an axis.
  • a coiled contact pressure spring urges the contact arms into closure relationship with respective stationary contacts to establish electrical contact.
  • a coiled contact opening spring coaxially disposed with respect to the pressure spring, selectively urges the slide member in one direction along the axis when the latching load pressure is relieved, causing the contact arms to pivot and their contacts to separate from the fixed contacts a distance which is exponential with respect to movement of said slide member.
  • rocker cams forming an integral part of the opposing inside housing walls, are engaged by the contact arms which causes a rolling, pivotal separating movement to occur between the respective contact pairs of the circuit breaker.
  • circuit breakers have been made that are manually operable between open and closed positions and which open automatically by the action of a thermal element on occurrence of an overload current. Also, such devices have been made so that they cannot be manually held closed if the overload persists, i.e., they are trip-free. In-certain cases the prior devices consisted of three principal assemblies, namely, a switch assembly, a latching assembly capable of moving the switch into closed position and holding it there, and a releasing assembly for automatically releasing the latch assembly to allow the switch assembly to move into open position.
  • the present invention provides a dual, coaxial spring actuation for the switch assembly in which a main contact spring operates against movable contact members to forcibly urge the movable contacts into engaging relationship with stationary terminalcontacts.
  • the second or opening spring effectively operates against the movable contact support to rotatably separate the movable contacts from the stationary terminal contacts upon release of the latch assembly in response to an overload condition of the thermal element.
  • Means are provided on the opposing inside wall surfaces of the circuit breaker housing for engaging the movable contacts after initial separation with the stationaryterminal contacts, whereby a rolling motion ensues which increases the distance between the previously mated contacts at an exponential rate. Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel switch assembly for a circuit breaker of the type herein described having contact closures adapted to provide opening clearances substantially greater than can be attained in conventional breakers.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel switch assembly for circuit breakersv of the type herein described whereby the contact pressure will be the' same in all circuit breakers of similar design of a given production run.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel circuit breaker with means to enable the contact load pressure to by-pass the thermal element and also to enable the movable contact assemblies to separate from stationary contacts at an exponential rate, so as to provide a contact opening clearance approximately three times a normal clearance obtainable by employing conventional contact closure mechanisms.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker of the character described having a pair of fixed contacts and, a pair of movable contacts wherein the movable contacts pivot in a rocking action during the closing and opening thereof so as to produce a self-wiping action to keep the contacts clean.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel contact closure mechanism for a circuit BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING I
  • FIG. 1 is an elevation view with one half of the housing removed of the novel circuit breaker incorporating the contact closure mechanism of the present invention in closed position.
  • FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the contact closures in their fully open position.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of major component parts comprising the latch assembly and contact closure mounting assembly.
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the latch assembly illustrating the trip cams of latch mechanism in their latched position in solid lines.
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the trip cams as taken in the direction of arrows 55 of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of the contact closure mechanism employed in the circuit breaker of FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of inside side of one portion or side of the circuit breaker housing with the operating mechanismremoved.
  • the circuit breaker includes a latch assembly designated, generally, by numeral 11, and a thermal element release assembly for releasing the latching assembly is designated, generally, by numeral 12.
  • a switch assembly designated generally by numeral 13.
  • the latch assembly, thermal element release assembly and the switch asse'mbly are enclosed within a housing 14.
  • the housing comprises a pair of identical sections which are held together by suitable fasteners to define an interior cavity in which the components of the circuit breaker are located. Only one half of the housing is illustrated.
  • the latch assembly 11 may take the form of any preferred assembly which is capable of moving the switch assembly to a make or closed position and for holding the switch assembly in this position until released.
  • Conventional latch assemblies include a guide 15 for movably supporting a manual operating button 16 which includes an extended portion or sleeve 17 disposed within the interior cavity of the housing.
  • the present invention is not limited to a particular latch assembly.
  • any suitable latch assembly may be used such as that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,986,620, for example, a particularly suitable and advantageous form is shown in the drawing, and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 147,449, filed May 27, I971, entitled Circuit Breaker.
  • the latch assembly 11 includes a central mounting shaft 18 for supporting an upper trip cam 20 of two engageable cams 20,22.
  • Shaft 18 is coaxially and coextensively disposed with respect to a lower shaft 21 which carries lower trip cam 22.
  • the members 20 and 22 which function as, and constitute, latch members are frequently referred to herein as cams, for the sake of simplicity.
  • the trip cams 20,22 are provided with slots defined by body portions so that when a mating occurs between alternate slots and body portions of the respective trip cams, the trip cams will interleave so that loading tension is released from the latch assembly to permit release of the switch assembly.
  • the trip cams 20 and 22 are rotated relative to one another by the thermal element release assembly 12 which includes a spirally coiled bimetal strip 23 having braided wires 24 and 25 welded to the opposite ends thereof and, in turn, having their opposite ends welded to a pair of movable contact arms 26 and 27.
  • the movable contact arms 26 and 27 form a part of the switch assembly and are pivotally mounted at their respective mid-sections to the ends of the opposite lateral projections 28 and 29 carried on a vertical slide member 30.
  • the slide member 30 carries shaft 21 and includes a guided body portion which extends downwardly through an insulating washer 31 which is held in a recess in the housing 14.
  • a pair of stationary terminals 32 and 33 which include fixed contacts 34 and 35 residing in the housing cavity.
  • the fixed contacts are adapted to be selectively engaged by contact buttons 36 and 37 mounted on the movable contact arms 26 and 27.
  • contact pressure is maintained by means of a main contact spring 40'which is coaxially disposed about the body portion of slide member 30 and is expandably disposed between the bottom of the housing 14 and a flange 41 carried on insulating washer 31.
  • the contact pressure is established by means of the forcible urging of spring 40 against flange 41 which bears against the extreme ends of the contact arms 26 and 27 so as to pivot the arms in a direction causing the contacts 36 and 37 to press against the fixed contacts 34 and 35, respectively.
  • the latch assembly is depressed with the button 16substantially enclosed by member 15 and the opposing ends of trip latches or cams 20 and 22 are bearing against one another.
  • This arrangement loads the latch assembly and the switch assembly but does not load the thermal element release assembly.
  • the pressure loading extends through the abutting ends of the trip latches or cams 20,22 and extends down to the lower shaft 21 and into a lower guide 42 and operating spring 43 compressed between.
  • the spring 43 is'compressed between a flange on lower guide 42 and the upper end of an inner bore in slide member 30.
  • the spring 43 is held substantially compressed due to the fact that the opposing ends of the trip cams are en gaged which places a load through the lower shaft 21 opposing the force of spring 43.
  • a pair of semi-circular cams or aligned rounded members 44 carried on the inside surface walls of the housing halves are engageable by the upper surface of the contact arms in response to upward movement of the slide member so as to effect fixed and movable contact separation at an exponential rate.
  • the inside surface wall is indicated by numeral 45 and semicircular flange 44 is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 since it lies behind the mass of slide portion 30.
  • the opposing ends of the contact arms are bifurcated so that the opposite legs embrace the opposite sides of the slide member 30 so as to accommodate its mass therebetween.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the central components of the circuit breaker to showthe relative position and location, thereof, for assembly.
  • the trip cams 20 and 22 which have cylindrical body portions that are slotted lengthwise from one end, forming parallel legs 45,46, respectively.
  • the extremities of the legs 45 and 46 include opposing end surfaces
  • FIG. 7 one of the pair of housing halves is illustrated in which the'inside wall surface is indicated by numeral 45 for the internal cavity in which rocker or semi-circular surface 44 is disposed.
  • the semi-circular surface 44 is bordered by parallel spaced sections 60 and 61 between which slide member 30 47 and 48 which normally abut one another-
  • the semi-circular surface 44 is bordered by parallel spaced sections 60 and 61 between which slide member 30 47 and 48 which normally abut one another-
  • the thermal element release assembly includes the bimetal 23 having its inner end, indicated by numeral .52, physically secured to an insulating mounting piece 53 via a J shaped member 54 having its outer end anchored to the housing. Member 54 also has the braided wire 24 electrically connected to it by welding.
  • Mounting piece 53 is fixedly secured to the lower trip cam or latch 22 so that the rotary movement of the bimetal coil istranslated into rotational movement of the'lower trip latchas the bimetal coils and uncoils when it becomes heated on occurrence of an overload current and cools after the breaker trips open. It is to be understood that any together but permitting rotation of the shaft relative to I the slide.
  • the contact arms are in their closed or engaged positions with respect to the fixed contacts 34 and 35. While the contact arms are in the solid line position, it can be seen that spring 40 urges the upper surface of flange 41 of the insulating washer 31 against the yoke end of the contact arm so as to forcibly urge the movable contact into engagement with the fixed contacts. Also, it can be seen that an annular bore or opening 56 is provided in the body portion of the slide member 30 to accommodate the spring 43. The spring 43 operates at its lowerend against the base flange of member 42 while its upper end presses against a portion of the slide'member terminating the annular bore 56 on the slide member.
  • the slide member 30 is further provided with an elongated axial shank 57 which is slidably inserted into the lower guide 41 to guide the movement of the slide.
  • the slide member 30 is in its fully raised or upward position, being forcibly urged there by spring 43 when the cam latches 20,22 are interleaved. In the elevated positions, a substantial clearance is provided between the movable and fixed contacts.
  • housing walls further provide surfaces 65 and 66 on which fixed contacts 34 and 35 may be supported via .the terminals 32 and 33. It is to be fully understood that although one half portion of housing 14 'is illustrated in FIG. 7, another identical half portion is employed which cooperates with the internally projecting surfaces and walls such as semi-circular portion 44, sections 60 and 61, block 62, and beads 63 and 64, so that the internal cavity may readily house the components previously described and illustrated.
  • a circuit breaker a housing, a latch assembly enclosed in said housing, a thermal release assembly connected with said latch assembly for releasing it upon occurrence of an overload current, a switch assembly held in closed position by said latch assembly, said switch assembly comprising a member slidable along an axis, a guidemember supported from said housing and slidably supporting said slidable member formovement along said axis, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said slidable member, a moving contact at one end of each arm, fixed contacts supported by said housing each engageable by one of said moving contacts, first resilient means between said'contact arms and said housing urging the opposite ends of said arms in a direction to press said moving contacts against said fixed contacts when said latch assembly is in latching condition, and second resilient means between said housing and said slidable member acting on said slidable member in a direction to cause contact separation, when said latch assembly becomes unlatched.
  • said first resilient means comprises a coiled compression spring engaging the housing, and a supporting member slidable relative to said slide member and engaged by said spring and engaging said opposite ends of said contact arms.
  • first resilient means comprises a coiled compression spring and second resilient means comprises a compressed helical spring coaxial with said first spring.
  • a circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1 having means fixedly supported relative to said housing, en-
  • said slide member includes a pair of outwardly extending projections and pivot connections coupling each of said contact arms at its mid-section to one of said projections.
  • a circuit breaker having a housing comprising a pair of identical half sections enclosing a latch assembly, a thermal release assembly operably secured tosaid latch assembly for releasing. said latch assembly and a switch assembly held in its closed position by said latch assembly wherein said switch assembly comprises: v x
  • each arm pivotally connected to said slide member, each arm having a contact carried on one of its ends for selective engageable contact with a fixed contact secured to said housing;
  • first resilient means disposed between said contact arms and said housing forcibly urging against the ends of said arms opposite to their ends carrying said contacts for applying contact pressure between said fixed and movable contacts;
  • a circuit breaker having a housing enclosing a latch assembly, a thermal release assembly operably secured to said latch for releasing said latch assembly upon occurrence of an overload, and a switch assembly held in it's closed position by said latch assembly wherein said switch assembly comprises:
  • each arm pivotally mounted on said slide member, each arm having a contact carried on one of its ends, fixed contacts supported by said housing and selectively engageable by said movable contacts;
  • first resilient means disposed between said contact arms and said housing forcibly urging the ends of said arms opposite to their ends carrying said contacts in a direction to apply pressure of said movable contacts against said fixed contacts;
  • second resilient means coaxially disposed with respect to said first resilient means and operably coupled between said housing and said slide member urging said slide member in a direction to relieve the contact pressure causing pivoting of said arms and contact separation in response to release of said latch assembly.

Landscapes

  • Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
US193915A 1971-07-15 1971-10-29 Contact operating mechanism for contact breaker Expired - Lifetime US3703694A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU31245/71A AU445838B2 (en) 1971-07-15 1971-07-15 Circuit breaker
GB3343771 1971-07-16
AT626771A AT315284B (de) 1971-07-15 1971-07-19 Druckknopfbetätigte Schalteinrichtung mit thermischer Überstromauslösung
DE2135969A DE2135969C3 (de) 1971-07-15 1971-07-19 Uberstromschalter
NL7109993A NL7109993A (fr) 1971-07-15 1971-07-20
BE770472A BE770472A (fr) 1971-07-15 1971-07-26 Mecanisme de fermeture de contacts pour disjoncteur
FR7127244A FR2146916B1 (fr) 1971-07-15 1971-07-26
CH976073A CH552890A (fr) 1971-07-15 1971-07-30 Disjoncteur.
US19391571A 1971-10-29 1971-10-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3703694A true US3703694A (en) 1972-11-21

Family

ID=27575574

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US193915A Expired - Lifetime US3703694A (en) 1971-07-15 1971-10-29 Contact operating mechanism for contact breaker

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3703694A (fr)
AT (1) AT315284B (fr)
AU (1) AU445838B2 (fr)
BE (1) BE770472A (fr)
CH (1) CH552890A (fr)
DE (1) DE2135969C3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2146916B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1349973A (fr)
NL (1) NL7109993A (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080197964A1 (en) * 2007-02-21 2008-08-21 Simpler Networks Inc. Mems actuators and switches
US20140158508A1 (en) * 2012-12-10 2014-06-12 Schneider Electric USA, Inc. Flexible conductor (braid) bonded to low material cost plug on jaw
US20170263405A1 (en) * 2012-03-16 2017-09-14 Hubbell Incorporated Enhanced auto-monitoring circuit and method for an electrical device
US20180174789A1 (en) * 2016-12-16 2018-06-21 Eaton Electrical Ip Gmbh & Co. Kg Self-resetting current limiter
CN110349802A (zh) * 2019-08-08 2019-10-18 陈利民 一种带干煲自锁和分段断开的温控耦合器

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT514961B1 (de) * 2013-12-23 2015-05-15 Miba Gleitlager Gmbh Mehrschichtgleitlager

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2335082A (en) * 1942-08-27 1943-11-23 Bulldog Electric Prod Co Switch
US2519297A (en) * 1947-03-27 1950-08-15 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2986620A (en) * 1959-12-29 1961-05-30 Briles Products Inc Circuit breaker
US3108164A (en) * 1962-04-02 1963-10-22 Briles Products Inc Circuit breaker with temperature compensating bi-metal element

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2335082A (en) * 1942-08-27 1943-11-23 Bulldog Electric Prod Co Switch
US2519297A (en) * 1947-03-27 1950-08-15 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker
US2986620A (en) * 1959-12-29 1961-05-30 Briles Products Inc Circuit breaker
US3108164A (en) * 1962-04-02 1963-10-22 Briles Products Inc Circuit breaker with temperature compensating bi-metal element

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080197964A1 (en) * 2007-02-21 2008-08-21 Simpler Networks Inc. Mems actuators and switches
US20110012703A1 (en) * 2007-02-21 2011-01-20 Reseaux Mems, Societe En Commandite Mems actuators and switches
US20170263405A1 (en) * 2012-03-16 2017-09-14 Hubbell Incorporated Enhanced auto-monitoring circuit and method for an electrical device
US10630066B2 (en) * 2012-03-16 2020-04-21 Hubbell Incorporated Enhanced auto-monitoring circuit and method for an electrical device
US20140158508A1 (en) * 2012-12-10 2014-06-12 Schneider Electric USA, Inc. Flexible conductor (braid) bonded to low material cost plug on jaw
US20180174789A1 (en) * 2016-12-16 2018-06-21 Eaton Electrical Ip Gmbh & Co. Kg Self-resetting current limiter
US10770255B2 (en) * 2016-12-16 2020-09-08 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Self-resetting current limiter
DE102016124639B4 (de) 2016-12-16 2022-05-25 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Selbstrücksetzender Strombegrenzer
CN110349802A (zh) * 2019-08-08 2019-10-18 陈利民 一种带干煲自锁和分段断开的温控耦合器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL7109993A (fr) 1973-01-23
CH552890A (fr) 1974-08-15
DE2135969B2 (de) 1975-03-20
AU3124571A (en) 1973-01-18
GB1349973A (en) 1974-04-10
BE770472A (fr) 1971-12-01
AT315284B (de) 1974-05-27
FR2146916B1 (fr) 1976-03-26
DE2135969C3 (de) 1975-10-30
DE2135969A1 (de) 1973-02-08
AU445838B2 (en) 1974-03-07
FR2146916A1 (fr) 1973-03-09

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