185results about "Switches with electrothermal and electromagnetic release" patented technology

An arc fault circuit breaker (10) conducting an electric current to a protected load is presented. The circuit breaker (10) has a first (mechanical) compartment (24) and a second (electrical) compartment (62). A bimetal resistor (50) is disposed within the first compartment (24) and conducts the current therethrough. The bimetal resistor (50) has a stud (56) extending into the second compartment (62). A single sense line (60) is electrically connected to the bimetal resistor (50) and routed into the second compartment (62). The sense line (60) and said stud (56) conduct a voltage signal indicative of arcing of the current. A circuit board (84) is disposed within the second compartment (62) and is connected to the sense line (60) and stud (56) within the second compartment (62) to process the voltage signal. The circuit board (84) has a first conductive path (104) electrically connected to the stud (56), and a second conductive path (106) electrically connected to the sense line (60). The first and second conductive paths (104,106) run substantially parallel and proximate to each other such that electromagnetic interference of the voltage signal is substantially reduced.

This invention discloses a ground fault circuit interrupter capable of detecting its end of life, and is characterized by: a pair of flexible metal sheets connected to the power output end are added on the circuit board of the interrupter, and there is a pair of moving contacts on the metal sheets; there are two pairs of fixed contacts on the power output conductors; the two pairs of fixed contacts on the power output conductors respectively correspond to the moving contacts on the power input metal sheets and the moving contacts on flexible metal sheets, thus forming two groups and four pairs of switches. There is also a tripping apparatus on the circuit board, which can release / trip the interrupter, thus cutting off the power output of the interrupter. An end of life detection circuit has also been added to the circuit board. After the interrupter is energized, various components in the interrupter are automatically detected. If it is found that the interrupter has come to the end of its life, the reset button will be prevented from resetting, so that neither the load end of the interrupter nor the power output holes on the surface of the interrupter have any power output. This invention has powerful applications, with sound safety precautions, thus effectively ensuring the personal safety of the user as well as the safety of the appliances.

An oil-immersed and high-pressure tripping switch structure comprises an operational apparatus, an arc-extinguishing cylinder, and an oil-shortage automatic tripping safety device wherein a sensory device detecting a fault current will trip open to displace a spring rebound pivoting-point, permitting a main spring to simultaneously actuate the release of contact points and the rotation of an operational handle therewith so that the operational handle is rotated to recover its primary angle so as to indicate the tripped / off status of the switch, facilitating the judgment and operation of workers. In addition, via a buoyant tube combined with an oil-retaining tank, the buoyant tube in case of oil-shortage can generate a sufficient downward pressure to activate the release of a tripping device so as to ensure the safety of the present invention in operation. Furthermore, a complex arc-interruption mechanism is applied so that the arc-extinguishing cylinder can efficiently break higher fault current thereby.

An electrically isolated rotor assembly for a cassette assembly of a circuit breaker includes a rotor having a first side and an opposing second side, a first isolation cap disposed on the first side, a second isolation cap disposed on the second side. Each isolation cap preferably includes a centrally located knob with a bushing surrounding each knob, wherein the bushings are sized for securement within apertures within first and second cassette half pieces.

Embodiments provide a low-profile, electronic circuit breaker. The electronic circuit breaker includes a housing containing first and second electrical branches coupled to respective first and second load terminals, and an electronic processing circuit within the housing adapted to monitor an electrical condition of the first and second electrical branches, wherein a maximum transverse width (Wt) of the housing is limited to occupy only a single standard breaker panelboard location. Circuit breakers including triggering mechanisms and tripping units are also disclosed. System and method aspects are provided, as are other aspects.

A thermal overload relay includes an inversion operation mechanism that is driven by a releasing lever to open or close a contact. The inversion operation mechanism includes a movable plate supported at one end so as to be inverted, and a tension spring for driving the movable plate for inversion. The releasing lever presses a middle of a wire of the tension spring to drive the movable plate for inversion. A projection is formed in the middle of the wire of the tension spring to contact with the releasing lever. Thus, a stable inversion operation can be made regardless of the positioning of an adjustment dial.

A mid-trip stop circuit breaker, having a handle, adapted for displacement about an axis of rotation between a first position and a second position, the handle being linked to a member whose position corresponds to a rotation position of the handle, a spring urging the handle toward the second position; a stop surface, displaceably supported in relation to the axis of rotation, the stop surface being selectively disposed along a path of the member at a middle position of a transition path from the first position to the second position, and being adapted to engage the member and counter a force of the spring, to retain the handle in the middle position of the transition path, such that a sufficient manual force applied to the handle when retained at the middle position of the transition path will displace the stop surface, allowing the handle to achieve the second position, while in an absence of the sufficient manual force and under influence of the spring alone, the stop surface impedes displacement of the handle and retains it in the middle of the transition path.

An electrically isolated rotor assembly for a cassette assembly of a circuit breaker includes a rotor having a first side and an opposing second side, a first isolation cap disposed on the first side, a second isolation cap disposed on the second side. Each isolation cap preferably includes a centrally located knob with a bushing surrounding each knob, wherein the bushings are sized for securement within apertures within first and second cassette half pieces.

The invention provides an operating mechanism of a miniature circuit breaker, which comprises a housing, a handle and a static contact. The internal surface of the housing is provided with a handle shaft. The handle is sleeved on the handle shaft. The invention further comprises a transmission rod, a transmission component and an electromagnetic trip gear. The transmission rod is hinged with the handle and the transmission component. The transmission component comprises a lock latch shaft, a lock latch spring, a lock catch, a moving contact, a jumping latch and a jumping latch spring. The lock latch shaft is arranged on the internal surface and parallel with the handle shaft. The other parts is sleeved on the lock catch shaft in turn. The moving contact and the static contact are matched with each other. A triggering lug boss is arranged on the jumping latch, which is matched with a releasing rod pushed by a moving iron core in the solenoid of the electromagnetic trip gear. The invention can further comprises an adjustable reaction spring used for restricting the operation of the moving iron core, a bimetallic strip, an arc striking tab and an arc suppressing device. The invention has the advantages of less components, simple structure, good stability , low cost, convenient production and installation, safety and adjustable setting current.

The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a fault detection assembly coupled to the plurality of line terminals. The fault detection circuit is configured to provide a fault detection output in response to detecting a fault condition. A circuit interrupter is coupled between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The circuit interrupter includes a first set of contacts, the first set of contacts being configured to close to establish at least one electrically continuous path between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals in a reset state. The first set of contacts are also configured to open to disconnect the at least one electrically continuous path in response to the fault detection output to enter a tripped state. An auxiliary switch is coupled to the fault detection assembly. The auxiliary switch includes a second set of contacts configured to decouple at least a portion of the fault detection assembly from a source of electrical power in the tripped state. A latch assembly is coupled to the circuit interrupter. The latch assembly includes a first latch block mechanism configured to close the first set of contacts in the reset state and a second latch block mechanism configured to open the second set of contacts in the tripped state.

A fault interrupter and load break switch includes a trip assembly configured to automatically open a transformer circuit electrically coupled to stationary contacts of the switch upon the occurrence of a fault condition. The fault condition causes a Curie metal element electrically coupled to at least one of the stationary contacts to release a magnetic latch. The release causes a trip rotor of the trip assembly to rotate a rotor assembly. This rotation causes ends of a movable contact of the rotor assembly to electrically disengage the stationary contacts, thereby opening the circuit. The switch also includes a handle for manually opening and closing the electrical circuit in fault and non-fault conditions. Actuation of the handle coupled to the rotor assembly via a spring-loaded rotor causes the movable contact ends to selectively engage or disengage the stationary contacts.

The present invention provides an electromagnetic tripping device. The device has a cradle (1) supporting a U-shaped armature (2) whose ends form polar surfaces cooperating with a palette (3). The palette is brought on the surfaces to close a magnetic circuit formed by the armature and the palette. A trip coil (4) is mounted around a yoke frame surrounding the magnetic circuit and can thwart the force of a magnet to move the palette. A resetting top cap (7) of the palette is mounted slidingly in a support (12) included in the cradle. The palette (3) pivots with respect to the U-shaped armature. The feature of the electromagnetic tripping device is that the cradle (1) includes the said top cap (7) and support (12).

A circuit breaker includes a molded housing having a base and a cover forming a recess. A cylindrical steel pivot pin is disposed in the recess of the housing. Fixed and movable separable contacts are disposed within the molded housing. An operating mechanism is disposed within the molded housing for moving the separable contacts between an open position and a closed position. The operating mechanism includes a cradle having a latch portion and a generally U-shaped pivot portion which pivotally engages the cylindrical steel pivot pin. A trip mechanism cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a portion which engages the latch portion of the cradle when the separable contacts are in the closed position.

A bimetal in a circuit breaker can deflect in a first direction or a second direction depending upon conditions. If the bimetal deflects in the second direction it can increase the force necessary to operate a trip mechanism of the circuit breaker. A yoke stop helps to control bimetal deflection forces and thus, the amount of force necessary to operate the trip mechanism. This allows better control, size, and selection of operating parts for the circuit breaker.

Being applicable to breaker in low voltage and large current, the disclosed trip includes a trip system installed on a base through a mounting plate. The trip system is composed of following parts: a draw bar coupled to first bracket fixed on the mounting plate; a push rod setup on location hole of the mounting plate; electromagnet trip corresponding to each phase current; thermal trip corresponding to each phase current; and knob subassembly in use for adjusting position in axial direction of the draw bar. Electromagnet trip and thermal trip are installed on each phase. Thus, when over loading happens on any phase, relevant electromagnet trip and thermal trip will take action. Features are: shortening time for producing and assembling the improved and simplified trip effectively, convenient for productive storage and management.

The circuit breaker current / time characteristic value at which the bimetal in a thermal trip assembly actuates a trip mechanism is adjusted by an adjustable coupler that includes first and second pivoted members separately rotatable about a common pivot axis. Deflection of the bimetal by an overload current causes rotation of the first pivoted member, which is coupled by a coupling member extending parallel to the common axis into the second pivoted member which rotates to actuate the trip mechanism. A positioner moves the coupling member toward and away from the common pivot axis to adjust the amount of deflection of the bimetal needed to actuate the trip mechanism.

A magnetic trip mechanism is provided for an electrical switching apparatus. The magnetic trip mechanism includes a magnetic member, an armature having opposing first and second ends and first and second sides, an armature restraint and a biasing element. The armature moves among first and second positions corresponding to separable contacts of the electrical switching apparatus being tripped open and closeable, respectively. The armature restraint includes first and second portions. In the first position, the first side of the armature engages the magnetic member. In the second position, the second side of the armature engages the second portion of the armature restraint. The armature restraint and the biasing element comprise a sub-assembly, which is removably coupled to the magnetic member. After being removably coupled to the magnetic member, the biasing element is chargeable to bias the armature away from the first position toward the second position.

A circuit breaker includes a trip unit and an electronic fault detection unit sharing a common trip latch for causing the circuit breaker to trip upon detection of a fault by either unit. The circuit breaker has an electromagnet for causing the circuit breaker to trip upon detection of a fault by an electronic fault detection unit. The electromagnet is oriented in the housing proximal the trip latch without any components interposed between them, and directly attracts the latch. Advantageously the electromagnet orientation does not impact operation or the range of motion of the latch or other trip unit components. Advantageously the circuit breaker of the present invention does not increase the trip latch mass, its bulk swept volume through its range of motion or require additional linkage components that potentially might increase trip cycle time. In some embodiments the electromagnet core is reciprocable.

A multi-pole circuit breaker and method include at least two breaker modules including circuit breakers therein. The circuit breakers include a moveable arm configured to connect and disconnect contacts therein. The at least two modules including armatures connectable to the moveable arms of each of the at least two modules. A center module connects the at least two modules. The center module includes an actuator and a beam connected to the actuator at a mid-portion. The beam connects to each armature of the at least two modules wherein under a trip condition the actuator displaces the beam to simultaneously trip the at least two modules using the armatures.

A subminiature circuit breaker is equipped with an arc fault auxiliary switch actuated by the arc fault trip motor through an indicator actuator that also deploys a pop-up arc fault indicator. An additional auxiliary switch actuated by the drive link on the toggle mechanism provides an indication of the open / closed state of the circuit breaker separable contacts. Both the arc fault auxiliary switch and the contact state auxiliary switch are mounted on the outside of the subminiature circuit breaker housing and are operated by an operating member and a pivoted member, respectively, extending through openings in the housing.

A magnet assembly for actuating a trip latch in a circuit breaker. The magnet assembly includes a core and an armature. The core is disposed around a conductor forming a primary current path in the circuit breaker, and includes an end forming a pole face. The armature is biased by a force acting in a direction away from the pole face. The armature includes a generally planar surface and a projection extending from the generally planar surface toward the pole face. The generally planar surface is separated from the pole face by a first air gap, and the projection is separated from the pole face by a second air gap. The first air gap is larger than the second air gap.

An operating device of electric protection equipment contained in an insulating shell body containing a pair of static and movable contact parts. The device comprises: a drive link coupled to a handle; a supporting device of the movable contact part including a mounting plate rotatablely installed on a pivot shaft and a machine coupling part separated from the drive link; an unlocking pole controlled by an unlocking device so that the machine can automatically unlock and separate the contact parts no matter the handle is at any state; a separable machine coupling part composed of a remaining notch of the unlocking pole of a pin coupled with a locking element rotatablely installed on the plate; wherein the drive link at the locking position of the locking element is pressed on the plate and the locking element, and the relative position of two supporting surfaces respectively of the plate and the locking element and the proportion of two bar linkages are selected so that the force applied onto the locking element is smaller than that applied onto the plate.

A circuit breaker trip unit includes a housing and a rotary plunger pivotally mounted within the housing. The rotary plunger has an on position and a tripped position. A portion of the rotary plunger is pivoted outside of the housing in the tripped position. A trip bar is pivotally mounted within the housing and includes a first tab latching the rotary plunger in the first position and releasing the rotary plunger from the first position. The trip bar also includes a second tab. A trip actuator includes a solenoid and a rotary trip lever engaging the second tab of the trip bar, in order to pivot the trip bar and release the rotary plunger from the on position. A spring biases the trip bar, in order that the first tab latches the rotary plunger in the on position. A pair of springs biases the rotary plunger to the tripped position.

A circuit breaker according to the present invention includes a terminal switching unit mounted in an enclosure thereof, and the terminal switching unit accommodates, in a base as an outer casing thereof, a fixed contactor and a movable contactor contactable with and separated from each other, a sliding unit rotatably supporting the movable contactor, and a detection mechanism to detect a fault current. Radiators are provided at side portions of at least one of a contact portion where the movable contactor comes in contact with the fixed contactor, the sliding unit and the detection mechanism, each radiator radiating heat to the outside of the base. This may prevent an increase in temperature of the circuit breaker within a limited space without an increase in costs.

A thermal overload trip apparatus capable of minimizing inferiority caused by variations during manufacturing of an adjusting means and simply adjusting sensitivity by duplicating the means for adjusting a sensitivity to a trip operation current, comprising: a trip mechanism driven to a trip position by a driving force from a shifter mechanism on occurrence of an overload in a circuit; a release lever mechanism for driving the trip mechanism to the trip position by pressing it when there is the driving force from the shifter mechanism or for releasing the trip mechanism when there is no driving force, on occurrence of the overload in the circuit; an adjusting lever for operating the release lever mechanism to be horizontally moved by rotation; an adjusting knob having an upper surface having a setting groove and a lower portion having a cam portion; and a means independently adjusting the sensitivity to the trip operation current regardless of manipulation of the adjusting knob.

The minitype breaker is composed of the contacting system, arc extinction system, operating apparatus, free dropout apparatus, short circuit protecting system, insulated shell and operating handle, etc. By handler transmission, the operating system drives the movable contact to make the connection and disconnectionof the minitype breaker to control the electric wiring and the electric power energy flow. By detecting the heat and magnetic effect of the electric current, the electric wiring can be protected from overloading and short circuit.

Provided is a circuit breaker which can quicken the opening / closing speed of a contact and can maintain the performance over a long term. A circuit breaker is constituted such that when a handle is operated to turn about a second rotary shaft 9 of a supporting arm 40 from an off position toward an on position , a second interlock link 26 regulates rotation of a movable bar 30 while resisting against the urging force of a spring member 38 in order to prevent the movable bar 30 from rotating a predetermined angle or more about a first rotary shaft 46 within a predetermined angular range in rotation of the supporting arm. Furthermore, when the supporting arm 40 rotates over a predetermined angular range to the on position, the second interlock link 26 disengages from the movable bar 30 and the movable bar 30 is rotated about the first rotary shaft 46 by the urging force of the spring member 38 thus closing a movable contact 32 to a fixed contact 5.

The invention relates to an operating mechanism of a small-sized breaker being capable of freely releasing. The mechanism of the invention mainly adopts the structure that a handle, a lever, a moving contact, a locking component, a main shaft and a jump component are arranged in a shell. The mechanism of the invention is characterized in that the moving contact is articulated with the lever and the locking component through the main shaft; the moving contact is articulated with the lever and the locking component through the main shaft; one end of the contact pressure spring is connected with the moving contact, and the other end is connected with the lever; one end of the locking spring is connected with the locking component, and the other end is connected with the lever; one end of an energy storage spring is connected with the lever, and the other end is connected with a shaft that is fixed with the shell. The mechanism of the invention has simple, compact and reasonable structure, leads to more stable contact pressure between the moving contact and the static contact, only requires general process accuracy, reduces cost and is a small-sized operating device of a breaker which can freely release with more reasonable layout of the contact pressure spring and the energy storage spring.

This invention discloses a low-voltage circuit breaker with a capability of tripping quickly. Its main feature is that at least one of the side faces of the contact device provides an open flange which has an internal through hole, and the bottom of a rotating shaft disposed on the bottom part provides a stressed member. The stressed member receives the over-pressure airflow escaping from the open flange of the contact device to generate a force. The force is passed to the activating member by the rotating shaft and is magnified, then hits the latch quickly and makes a trip. An intermediate step is bypassed due to the force produced earlier, the force which is produced by the electromagnetism part in the heat energy and electromagnetic system, so that the low-voltage breaker can open quickly and reduces opening time greatly and improve the breaking capability.

A method and magnetic trip unit for actuating a latching mechanism to trip a circuit breaker upon an overcurrent condition, the magnetic trip unit including: a first electrically conductive strap configured to conduct an electrical current; a first magnet yoke disposed proximate to the first electrically conductive strap; and a first armature pivotally disposed proximate to the first magnetic yoke in operable communication with the latching mechanism; the first armature providing a magnetic path having a reluctance to magnetic flux; and the reluctance is adjusted to prevent saturation of the magnetic flux when the current through the strap is a first number times a rated current of the circuit breaker and the reluctance is adjusted to promote saturation of magnetic flux when the current through the strap is a second number times the rated current of the circuit breaker, wherein the first number is a number smaller than the second number.