Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.

Gould Inc.

Siemens-Allis, Inc.

I-T-E Imperial Corporation

Bernard DiMarco

David A Leone

James Edward Ferree

Stephen D Cella

Robert E Black

Charles W Stanford

Neal B Reeves

Russell Bryant Green

Frank W Kussy

Andrew J Kralik

Mauricio Rodriguez

Bruce D Guiney

Rex J McColloch

Elizabeth J Blessitt

Fritz Freidenstein

Frank R Keller

Steven A Kaufman

Christoph Hamann

Robert G Bergman

Günther Kachelrieb

Tadeusz J Rys

Keith T Krueger

Mark Blankemeyer

Ralph C Clement

Carl E Gryctko

Rodney C Kramer

Charles D Garnto

Jill Stegall

Charles W Parmenter

John B Cataldo

Michel M Fenneteau

John C Hempstead

Gustave E Heberlein, Jr

G&uuml;nther Kachelrieb

Bradley J Lewis

A signal accessory for a molded case circuit breaker, with the circuit breaker () having an operating mechanism () with a cradle pin (), a cross bar () and a trip bar () and a main breaker cover (). The signal accessory () comprises a signal accessory mounting () having a bottom mount () and a top mount () coupled to the bottom mount () with the top mount configured to receive a switch () and engage the breaker cover () in an accessory socket (). A switch member () is rotably mounted on the bottom mount () with the switch member () having an actuator lever () in contact with the operating mechanism () of the circuit breaker () and an actuator pad () in contact with a switch mounted on the top mount ().

Signal accessory for a molded case circuit breaker

A signal accessory for a molded case circuit breaker, with the circuit breaker having an operating mechanism with a cradle pin, a cross bar and a trip bar and a main breaker cover. The signal accessory comprises a signal accessory mounting having a bottom mount and a top mount coupled to the bottom mount with the top mount configured to receive a switch and engage the breaker cover in an accessory socket. A switch member is rotably mounted on the bottom mount with the switch member having an actuator lever in contact with the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker and an actuator pad in contact with a switch mounted on the top mount. When the circuit breaker is opened or closed the operating mechanism moves a cross bar coupled to the contact arm. The cross bar moves the actuator lever of the switch changing the state of the switch.

The circuit breaker ( ) including a molded housing ( ) including a main breaker cover ( ), a first terminal ( ) and a second terminal ( ) mounted in the casing with a contact ( ) electrically coupled to the first terminal ( ) and a movable contact ( ) electrically coupled to the second terminal ( ). It also includes an operating mechanism ( ) having a pivoting member ( ) movable between an ON position, an OFF position and a TRIPPED position, wherein the pivoting member ( ) is coupled to the movable contact ( ). An intermediate latching mechanism ( ) is mounted in the housing ( ) and coupled to the operating mechanism ( ) is in selective operative contact with a trip unit having a trip bar ( ). The trip unit is also coupled to the movable contact ( ) and the second terminal ( ). An accessory socket ( ) formed in the main breaker cover ( ), on either side of an opening for the pivoting member ( ) is in communication with the housing ( ). A latching protrusion ( ) mounted in the socket ( ) engages an accessory ( ) installed in the accessory socket ( ). An accessory cover ( ) sized to cover the accessory ( ) mounted in the accessory socket ( ) is also provided. One such accessory ( ) that can be installed in the socket ( ) is a shunt trip device ( ) which will trip the circuit breaker ( ) upon receiving a power signal from a remote location.

Shunt trip device for a molded case circuit breaker

The circuit breaker ( ) of the present invention is a molded case circuit breaker and includes a molded case ( ) having a main cover ( ), a first terminal ( ) and a second terminal ( ) mounted inside the case ( ) with a stationary contact ( ) electrically coupled to the first terminal ( ) and a movable contact ( ) electrically coupled to the second terminal ( ). The movable contact ( ) is coupled to an operating mechanism ( ) which has a pivoting member ( ) moveable between an ON position, an OFF position and a TRIPPED position. An intermediate latching mechanism ( ) also is mounted in the housing ( ) and is coupled to the operating mechanism ( ). The intermediate latching mechanism ( ) is selectively operated by a trip unit ( ) which comprises a magnetic short circuit release and a thermal overload release. The trip unit ( ) can be reconfigured by the addition of an inner yoke ( ) nested between the flanges ( ) of an outer yoke ( ) and a second magnetic shield ( ) can be attached to the outer yoke ( ) to change the sensitivity of the trip unit ( ) to the currents experienced by the circuit breaker. A particular embodiment of the circuit breaker ( ) includes an interchangeable bi-metal ( ) member of a copper alloy having a chemical composition of CDA &num;19400 and with an electrical conductivity of not more than 40% IACS.

Bi-metal trip unit for a molded case circuit breaker

A circuit breaker ( ) including a stationary line bus assembly ( ). The stationary line bus assembly ( )comprises a bus body ( ) supported by support legs ( ) with the bus body ( ) having a first longitudinal end portion ( ) and a second longitudinal end portion ( ), with each end portion terminating at a common end portion ( ). The second end portion ( ) includes a stationary contact bus ( ) in a spaced relationship from the first end portion ( ). A line terminal ( ) is mounted on the first longitudinal end portion ( ) and a contact ( ) is attached to the second longitudinal end portion ( ). In one embodiment, a bus support ( ) is attached to the bus body ( ) in the space between the first end portion ( ) and the second end portion ( ) and separated from the support legs ( ) of the bus body ( ) by an insulating barrier ( ). The stationary bus support ( ) can have several configuration.

Stationary line bus assembly

An adjustable thermal-magnetic trip unit for a molded case circuit breaker,is disclosed, with the circuit breaker,including a housing,having an operating mechanism,including an intermediate latch,a line terminal,a load terminal,and a cover,The adjustable thermal-magnetic trip unit includes a magnetic yoke,mounted in the housing,and a bimetal member mounted in the magnetic yoke,with the bimetal member having a fixed end and a movable end. The fixed end is coupled to a load bus,of the load terminal,, and the movable end is coupled to a movable contact of the operating mechanism,The trip unit,also includes a horizontal trip bar rotatably mounted in the housing,with the trip bar,having an actuating arm gapped from the movable end of the bimetal member and with the actuating arm aligned to selectively engage the movable end of the bimetal member. The trip unit,also includes a latch pawl mounted on the trip bar,and having an inclined latching surface aligned with and engaging an inclined latch surface of the intermediate latch; and an adjustment knob associated with the trip bar, wherein rotation of the adjustment knob moves the trip bar horizontally and thereby moves the latch pawl along the inclined latching surface to change the gap between the actuating arm and the movable end of the bimetal member.

Thermal-magnetic trip unit with adjustable magnetic tripping

A circuit breaker (,) including an electrical arc extinguishing apparatus (,). The electric arc extinguishing arc apparatus (,) includes a first sidewall (,) in a spaced relationship with the second sidewall (,) with a top arc plate (,) mounted between the first and second sidewalls (,). A plurality of intermediate arc plates (,) are mounted between the first (,) and second sidewalls (,) below the top arc plate (,) with each in a spaced apart relationship. A bottom arc plate (,) is mounted between the first and second sidewalls below and apart from the intermediate plates (,) forming an arc chute. The electric arc extinguishing apparatus (,) can also be provided with two end caps (,) with each end cap (,) having an interior cavity (,) with one leg (,) of each arc plate (,) mounted in the cavity (,) of one end cap (,) and the other leg (,) of each arc plate (,) mounted in the cavity (,) of the other end cap (,).

ARC chute for a molded case circuit breaker

A molded case circuit breaker and includes a molded case (,) having a main cover (,), a first terminal (,) and a second terminal (,) mounted inside the case (,) with a stationary contact (,) electrically coupled to the first terminal (,) and a movable contact (,) electrically coupled to the second terminal (,). The movable contact (,) is coupled to an operating mechanism (,) which has a pivoting member (,) moveable between an ON position, an OFF position and a TRIPPED position. An intermediate latching mechanism (,) also is mounted in the housing (,) and is coupled to the operating mechanism (,). The intermediate latching mechanism (,) is selectively operated by a trip unit (,) which comprises a magnetic short circuit release and a thermal overload release. The trip unit (,) can be reconfigured by the addition of an inner yoke (,) nested between the flanges (,) of an outer yoke (,) and a second magnetic shield (,) can be attached to the outer yoke (,) to change the sensitivity of the trip unit (,) to the currents experienced by the circuit breaker. A particular embodiment of the circuit breaker (,) includes an interchangeable bi-metal (,) member of a copper alloy having a chemical composition of CDA &num;19400 and with an electrical conductivity of not more than 40% IACS.

A method for adjusting the calibration of a circuit breaker trip mechanism including a terminal element, a bimetal element connected thereto, and a trip bar. Laser energy is applied to lanced or pre-bent surfaces of the terminal element to thermally induce displacement thereof and thereby modify a trip distance between the bimetal element and the trip bar. Where a laser beam is directed to fall on a middle leg of a lanced or pre-bent section of the terminal element, the bimetal element moves in one direction relative to the trip bar. Conversely, where a laser beam is directed to fall on lateral legs of the lanced or pre-bent section of the terminal element, the bimetal element moves in an opposite direction relative to the trip bar. Thus, laser energy may be applied from the same direction, or to the same side of the trip structure, regardless of whether the trip time is to be increased or decreased.

Method for thermally calibrating circuit breaker trip mechanism and

A contact assembly (22) is adapted for use with a circuit breaker (12) that is set to open a circuit above a predetermined current load. The contact assembly (22) is adapted to reciprocate between a closed position to permit the flow of current through the circuit and an open position to prevent the flow of current. The contact assembly (22) is further adapted to resist unintended reciprocation from the closed position to the open position at current loads up to or exceeding the predetermined current load. The contact assembly includes a line side conductor (38) and a load side conductor (54). When in the closed position, a surface (42) of the line side conductor (38) extends proximal to a surface (56) of the load side conductor (54) and current flows in substantially the same direction along the line side and load side surfaces (42 and 56) to generate an electromagnetic attraction between the conductors (38 and 54) in order to resist unintended reciprocation of the contact assembly (22) from the closed position to the open position due to inherent repulsion forces present across the contact points (contact constriction forces). A circuit breaker assembly (10) and an automated control system (300) are also described.

Remote controlled circuit breaker

A circuit breaker housing includes a base having a main portion and a separate subbase portion. The line contact arms for the breaker are mounted on the subbase portion and attached to the main portion which includes the load contact arms. The main portion of the base includes a bottom wall which insulates the load contact arms from the line contact arms along a portion of their lengths. In addition, the bottom wall forms a structural member which rigidly ties the two sidewalls of the main portion of the base. The bottom wall of the main portion of the base includes an opening through which line contacts coupled to the line contact arm make contact with load arm contacts coupled to the load contact arms. Adjacent to the opening, the main portion of the base includes vertical ribs directly tied to the bottom wall which strengthen internal and external side walls in the main portion of the base and reinforce the structural member formed by the bottom wall of the main portion of the base. The subbase may be attached to the base with screws, adhesives, a combination of screws and adhesives or by other methods.

Multi-part circuit breaker housing

A circuit breaker (10) has a housing (12). A crossbar (114) is pivotally connected to the housing to pivot about an axis (117) between open and closed positions. A load contact arm (110) is pivotally connected to the crossbar (114). The load contact arm (110) is capable of pivoting about the axis (117). A cam mechanism (140) is mechanically coupled to the load contact arm (110). The cam mechanism (140) is slideably mounted within the crossbar (114) for movement between first and second positions. In the first position of the cam mechanism (140), the load contact arm (110) pivots through an angle (.beta.) about the axis, relative to the crossbar (114) between the 'touch' and closed positions, and the load contact arm (110) pivots together with the crossbar (114) through an angle (.alpha.) about the axis (117) between the open and 'touch' positions. (2) In the second position of the cam mechanism (140), the load contact arm (110) is free to pivot about the axis (117) through the angle .alpha. to the open position while the crossbar (114) is in the closed position. A biasing spring (160) applies a biasing force to bias the cam mechanism (140) towards the first position.

Movable contact structure for a circuit breaker, including crossbar and

A circuit breaker includes a cam assembly which holds the load blade in contact with the line strap during normal operation. The cam assembly includes a cam surface on a cam which can slide along the load blade and a bearing surface on the load blade. In normal operation, the cam is biased on the load blade so that the cam surface engages the bearing surface. The force applied by the cam surface to the bearing surface in normal operation is approximately parallel to the force applied by the load blade to the line strap, thus, the cam surface does not tend to slide along the bearing surface during normal operation. When a high overcurrent fault occurs, blow-open forces exerted between the load blade and the line strap cause the cam to pivot to a position where the cam surface no longer engages the bearing surface, allowing the load blade to swing free of the cam and break the contact between the load blade and the line strap. As the load blade swings free of the cam, it engages a further cam surface of the cam which reduces the biasing force essentially to zero, thereby increasing the opening speed of the blade. In addition, the frictional force of the further cam surface against the load blade prevents the load blade from reestablishing contact with the line strap until the mechanism trips, keeping the load blade in the open position.

Growing community of inventors

Lilburn, GA, United States of America

Bernard DiMarco