General Electric Company

E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Dave S Christensen

Roger N Castonguay

Randy Greenberg

Dean A Robarge

Girish Mruthunjaya Hassan

Dennis J Doughty

Randall Lee Greenberg

James L Rosen

Thomas F Papallo

Stefan Kranz

Hassan Girish

Julian Monzon

David Arnold

Mark Fredrick Culler

Michael H Thomas

Francesco DeVizzi

Matthias Reichard

Steve L Mecker

Ranganna C Dasari

Randall Green

Randy Greenburg

Dean Arthur Robarge

Roger Neil Castonguay

Randy L Greenberg

Dennis John Doughty

A ganged auxiliary switch for a circuit breaker comprises at least two auxiliary switches attached to each other in a side-by-side relationship so that they may be inserted into said circuit breaker as a single unit.

Ganged auxiliary switch configuration for use in a molded case circuit breaker

A mechanism for operating a plurality of circuit interruption mechanisms of a circuit breaker, the mechanism applies a uniform force to the circuit interruption mechanisms. The mechanism applies a force to an elongated member for manipulating the circuit interruption mechanisms. The mechanism applies a force to the elongated member at a first position and a second position, the first position and the second position being intermediate to a center of the elongated member and the plurality of circuit interruption mechanisms.

Circuit breaker mechanism

An assembly designed for connecting a motor operator mechanism to side frames of a circuit breaker operating mechanism is disclosed. The assembly comprising a plate connected between the side frames of the operating mechanism and a bracket portion secured to the plate and engages the motor operating mechanism. The bracket portion couples and aligns the motor operator mechanism and the circuit breaker operating mechanism.

Assembly for mounting a motor operator on a circuit breaker

An operating mechanism controls and trips a separable contact structure arranged in a protected circuit. The mechanism includes a frame, a drive member pivotally coupled to the frame, a spring pivotally connecting the drive member to a drive connector, an upper link pivotally seated on the drive connector, a lower link member pivotally coupled to the drive connector, a crank member pivotally coupled to the lower link member for interfacing the separable contact structure, and a cradle member pivotally secured to the frame and pivotally securing the upper link. The cradle member is configured for being releasably engaged by a latch assembly, which is displaced upon occurrence of a predetermined condition in the circuit such as a trip condition. The mechanism is movable between a tripped position, a reset position, an off position, and an on position. Spacers are operatively positioned between movable members, and protrusions are operatively formed on the enclosure of the contact structure. The spacers and protrusions serve to widen the stances of the operating mechanism for force distribution purposes, and also to minimize friction between movable components.

Circuit interrupter operating mechanism

A circuit breaker operating mechanism for separating a pair of electrical contacts within an electrical circuit breaker includes a lower link operatively connected to one of the electrical contacts. An upper link includes first and second legs extending from a central portion. The first leg is pivotally secured to the lower link, and the second leg includes a cam surface formed thereon. A roller is in intimate contact with the cam surface, and the cam surface is configured such that movement of the upper link relative to the roller causes the upper link to pivot about the central portion. Pivoting of the upper link about the central portion moves the lower link causing the second contact to move away from the first contact. An operating spring is configured to provide a force for separating the electrical contacts when the operating mechanism is tripped. An operating handle includes a void disposed therein, and an end of the spring is secured to the operating handle within the void.

Circuit breaker mechanism tripping cam

A system that implements a design process having a plurality of sub-processes each having a plurality of sub-steps. The system includes an independent application for implementing the design process. A series of independent sub-process applications each implements one sub-process of the design process. A communications path provides for communications between the design process and each of the sub-process applications. The communications path also provides for communications between each of said plurality of sub-processes. An application library containing a plurality of executable applications is accessible by the design process and sub-processes to access and execute the plurality of application tools.

System and method for optimization of a circuit breaker mechanism

A circuit breaker operating mechanism comprises a movable handle yoke, a mechanism spring extending in tension from the handle yoke to a pin, and a lower link extending from the pin to a crank operably connected to a contact arm bearing a movable contact. The crank is positionable in open and closed positions, being in an open position when the movable contact is separated from an associated fixed contact and being in a closed position when the movable contact is mated to said associated fixed contact. The circuit breaker further comprises an interface formed on said crank and a blocking prop having a first surface that engages said interface, the first surface preventing the crank from rotating towards the closed position.

High energy closing mechanism for circuit breakers

A return spring mechanism is arranged to operate with a circuit breaker operating mechanism during a trip condition. The circuit breaker operating mechanism is movable between a tripped position, a reset position, an off position and an on position. The return spring mechanism is attached to the exterior of the circuit breaker frame and includes a return spring with a fixed end attached to the frame. When the circuit breaker is tripped, the return spring mechanism operates to provide an additional force to the handle yoke. The additional force applied by the return spring is predetermined to position the handle yoke intermediate to the handle yoke positions when the circuit breaker is off and on. Thus, the movement of the handle yoke to the intermediate position provides clear indication that the circuit breaker is in the tripped condition.

Return spring for a circuit interrupter operating mechanism

A circuit breaker assembly includes first and second rotary contact assemblies mountable to a base member, a circuit breaker operating mechanism mounted to the first rotary contact assembly, and a trip bar in mechanical communication with the first rotary contact assembly and the circuit breaker operating mechanism. The rotary contact assemblies each include rotors rotatable about axes therethrough and movable contact arms pivotally mounted within the rotors. The circuit breaker operating mechanism serves to position the rotors to separate movable contacts thereon from fixed contacts. A trip override device includes spring links operably connected via springs to each of the rotors of the rotary contact assemblies and the trip bar. The trip bar comprises trip levers protruding radially therefrom and being in mechanical communication with the rotary contact assemblies.

Trip override for rotary breaker

A draw out interlock mechanism comprises a draw out trip arm pivotally attached in a draw out circuit breaker and an interlock activating assembly attached to a the draw out circuit breaker. The draw out trip arm comprises a first extension on a first end and a second extension on a second end. The first extension is positioned to interact with a trip latch of the operating mechanism. The interlock activating assembly comprises an extended arm and a camming arm, which are pivotally attached to a pin supported by a mounting bracket attached to the draw out circuit breaker. The extended arm extends through an aperture in the draw out circuit breaker with an end thereof proximate to the second extension of the draw out trip arm. The camming arm is adapted to interact with a camming surface attached to the draw out circuit breaker compartment such that when the draw out circuit breaker is inserted into the compartment, the camming arm and the extended arm rotate independently clockwise, the extended arm interacting with the draw out trip arm causing the draw out trip arm to rotate in counterclockwise, which in turn causes the first extension of the draw out trip arm to interact with the trip latch causing the draw out circuit breaker to trip, opening the contacts in the draw out circuit breaker.

Draw out interlock for circuit breakers

An operating mechanism comprises an operating handle movable between on and off positions, the operating handle extending substantially up at a point between said on and off positions; a crank for controlling a contact arm of a circuit breaker to cause the contact arm to move between open and closed positions when the crank moved; mechanism springs connected between the operating handle and crank so that the crank moves when the mechanism springs are discharged and when the operating handle is moved between on and off positions; a trip latch restraining the mechanism springs from discharging unless moved; and a trip lever having a lever arm, the trip lever being biased by a tripping spring to cause the trip lever to extend substantially up from the operating mechanism and move the trip latch and discharge said mechanism springs unless the trip lever is prevented from rotating under the influence of said tripping spring.

Motor operator interlock and method for circuit breakers

A termination connector for a circuit breaker is disclosed. The termination connector preferably includes a plurality of single pole screw receiving members integrally attached by a molded housing for unitary attachment to a line or load end of a circuit breaker to assist in holding a nut or nut plate adjacent each screw hole in the circuit breaker's terminal straps. The molded housing preferably includes a line of perforations between each single pole screw receiving member so that the correct number of single pole screw receiving members can be retained and the others can be knocked off along the line of perforations. Provisions are disclosed for adaption of the connector to metric or English standard nut hardware. In addition, the termination connector and circuit breaker are provided with mating attachment devices for providing a simple yet secure connection.

Growing community of inventors

Burlington, CT, United States of America

Dave S Christensen