Eaton Corporation

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Eaton Corportion

Cleveland, Ohio

Douglas Charles Marks

Robert Michael Slepian

Paul Richard Rakus

Nathan James Weister

David A Leone

Perry Robert Gibson

David A Parks

Alfred E Maier

Andrew Lawrence Gottschalk

David Edward Little

Richard E White

David Curtis Turner

Ronald W Crookston

Roger James Briggs

Yuri C Spitsberg

Amelia Marie Stay

Steven Castelein

John Joseph Shea

Craig Allen Rodgers

Joseph J Matsko

Erik Russell Bogdon

Roger William Helms

William E Beatty, Jr

Edward Louis Wellner

Henry Anthony Wehrli, Iii

Joseph Bell Humbert

David Michael Olszewski

Yun-Ko N Chien

H Richard Beck

William Charles Pollitt

Walter Oliver Jenkins

Dominic Patrick Martelli

Andrew James Male

John K Livesey

John G Salvati

Mark Allen McAfee

R Michael Slepian

Kevin S Sprinker

Amelia M Stay

Ameilia M Stay

Perry R Gibson

Roger J Briggs

Yuri C Spitzberg

Henry A Wehrli

The closing protection mechanism provided herein includes a control unit, a sensing switch and a sensing switch actuator. The control unit is coupled to, and in electronic communication with, the trip device. The control unit is structured to receive a sensing switch signal and to provide a control signal to the trip device. The sensing switch coupled to, and in electronic communication with, the control unit. The sensing switch is disposed adjacent to the toggle assembly. The sensing switch is structured to provide a sensing switch signal to the control unit. The sensing switch actuator is disposed on the toggle assembly. The sensing switch actuator is structured to actuate the sensing switch. The sensing switch is structured to be actuated by the sensing switch actuator when the toggle assembly is in the second, over-toggle configuration.

Closing protection mechanism for a closing assembly over-toggle linkage

The stored energy device interlock assembly provided is structured to prevent the closing assembly and/or the latch assembly from being actuated in selected configurations. The interlock assembly includes a latch D-shaft link assembly, an on-command paddle assembly, and an on-command paddle actuator. The latch D-shaft link assembly is pivotally coupled to, and structured to rotate, the latch assembly D-shaft. The on-command paddle assembly is structured to move the D-shaft link assembly. The on-command paddle actuator is structured to move the on-command paddle assembly. The interlock assembly is structured to disengage the latch assembly D-shaft from the on-command paddle assembly in selected configurations of the electrical switching apparatus. The interlock assembly provided herein has two pivotal degrees of freedom as opposed to a pivotal degree of freedom and a sliding degree of freedom.

Interlock assembly for a stored energy mechanism

A spring assembly is provided for a yoke assembly of an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a pole shaft. The yoke assembly is coupled to the pole shaft and is movable among first and second positions corresponding to the separable contacts being closed and open, respectively. The spring assembly includes a number of first springs having a first spring rate and being coupled to the yoke assembly, and a number of second springs having a second spring rate and being coupled to the yoke assembly. The second spring rate is different than the first spring rate. The number of first springs and the number of second springs bias the yoke assembly toward the second position.

Electrical switching apparatus, and yoke assembly and spring assembly therefor

The present invention provides for an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism opening assembly wherein the toggle assembly stop/kicker pin has been separated into a kicker pin and a stop pin. By separating the functions of the stop/kicker pin into separate pins, the kicker pin may now be located at the pivot point of the associated link. Further, the kicker pin and the stop pin are now disposed upon a cradle assembly as opposed to an elongated link. The cradle assembly further supports one of the toggle assembly links. Thus, rotation of the cradle assembly causes the toggle assembly to move. The operating mechanism opening assembly is configured so that, when an associated latch assembly latch plate assembly is released, the cradle assembly rotates so that the toggle assembly is moved away from a closing assembly closing device.

Electrical switching apparatus having a cradle with combined pivot and over-toggle reversing pin

A contact spring assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a movable contact assembly and a stationary contact assembly having stationary electrical contacts. The movable contact assembly includes a carrier assembly, and movable contact arms pivotably coupled to the carrier assembly and carrying movable electrical contacts. The contact spring assembly includes a first contact spring housing member, a second contact spring housing member coupled to and disposed opposite from the first contact spring housing member, a spring guide disposed between and coupled to at least one of the first and second contact spring housing members and including spring holes, springs received in the spring holes, and sliders coupled to the springs. The springs and sliders individually bias the movable contact arms and movable electrical contacts toward engagement with corresponding stationary electrical contacts. A movable contact assembly and an electrical switching apparatus are also disclosed.

Electrical switching apparatus, and movable contact assembly and contact spring assembly therefor

A latch engagement control mechanism is provided for a latch assembly of a circuit breaker including a housing, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism having a pole shaft, and at least one link coupled to the pole shaft. The latch assembly includes a pivot member cooperable with such link. The latch engagement control mechanism includes a latch pin having a cut-out portion and pivoting among a first position in which the latch pin prevents the pivot member from pivoting, and a second position in which the cut-out portion provides a clearance for the pivot member to pivot. A latch member coupled to the latch pin at or about the cut-out portion, includes at least a first protrusion engageable by the pivot member to establish the first position of the latch pin.

Electrical switching apparatus, and latch assembly and latch engagement control mechanism therefor

A catchment mechanism for an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism is provided. The catchment mechanism includes a catchment wheel with a radially extending surface, a catchment prop, and a catchment prop reset pin. The catchment wheel rotates with the cam in the closing assembly as the closing springs are being charged. During the charging of the springs, the catchment prop stop edge travels over, but preferably does not engage, the wheel outer surface. When the closing springs are released, the catchment prop stop edge engages the catchment wheel radially extending surface thus causing the catchment wheel to stop rotating. As the catchment wheel is fixed to the cam shaft, the rotation of the cam shaft, and therefore the cam, is also stopped. The catchment wheel radially extending surface is positioned so that the cam is stopped in an appropriate position to begin recharging the closing spring.

Catchment mechanism to prevent camshaft over-rotation during closure in a direct-drive stored energy mechanism

A latch assembly for an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism is provided. The latch assembly is structured so that force from the closing spring is directed along a line extending through the pivot point of a latch prop. A reset assembly for the latch prop is also provided.

Positive resetting close latch for closing electrical switching apparatus

An opening assist mechanism is for the cradle assembly of a circuit breaker including a housing enclosing separable contacts, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a trip bar and a cradle assembly. The cradle assembly includes a first toggle link, a second toggle link pivotally coupled to the first toggle link by a first pivot, and a cradle member pivotally coupled to the second toggle link by a second pivot. The cradle member includes a third pivot and a latching portion structured to engage the trip bar when the cradle assembly is disposed in a position corresponding to the separable contacts being closed or otherwise closeable. The opening assist mechanism comprises an actuator, such as a kicker pin, disposed on the cradle member and structured to engage and move at least one of the first and second toggle links in response to an actuation of the operating mechanism. In this manner, the opening assist mechanism resists the tendency of the first and second toggle links to jam in an over-center configuration.

Cradle assembly with opening assist mechanism and electrical switching apparatus employing the same

A support structure for a circuit interrupter latch member includes a first side plate having a first opening, and a second side plate having a second opening. A first hardened bushing includes a first opening and a first perimeter. The first opening of the first hardened bushing is adapted to pivotally mount a first tab of the latch member. The first perimeter is coupled to the first side plate at the first opening thereof. A second hardened bushing includes a second opening and a second perimeter. The second opening of the second hardened bushing is adapted to pivotally mount a second tab of the latch member. The second perimeter is coupled to the second side plate at the second opening thereof. The hardened material of the first and second side plates is harder than the unhardened material of the first and second side plates.

Support structure for a circuit interrupter latch and circuit breaker employing the same

A trip mechanism having a hatchet plate disposed on a pivot pin assembly having a pivot pin member with at least three pivoting surfaces. First and second pivoting surfaces are located where the pivot pin member engages the supporting side plates. Thus, the pivot pin assembly may rotate in the traditional manner, i.e., both the hatchet plate and the pivot pin assembly rotate between the side plates. An additional pivoting surface is located where the hatchet plate engages the pivot pin assembly.

Redundant pivot trip latch

A circuit breaker including a housing, separable contacts, a cradle rotatably mounted within the housing, an alarm switch mounted within the housing, and an interface lever disposed between the cradle and the alarm switch. The cradle is adapted to rotate about a first axis in a first direction when the circuit breaker moves to a tripped position in which the separable contacts are separated from one another. The alarm switch includes an actuation lever movable in an actuation direction, wherein movement of the actuation lever in the actuation direction causes the alarm switch to activate an alarm device electrically connected thereto. When the cradle rotates in the first direction, the cradle exerts a first force against the interface lever that causes the interface lever to exert a second force against the actuation lever that causes the actuation lever to move in the actuation direction.

Circuit breaker including alarm interface lever

A circuit breaker includes a housing including a primary cover and a secondary cover having a tab; separable contacts; and an operating mechanism adapted to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a cradle pivotally mounted within the housing, the cradle including a latch, and a latch mechanism within the housing. The latch mechanism is adapted to capture the latch of the cradle when the separable contacts are closed. The operating mechanism also includes a rotary interlock pivotally mounted within the housing and cooperating with the latch mechanism and the tab of the secondary cover to release the latch of the cradle and to trip open the separable contacts when the secondary cover is removed from the primary cover.

Circuit breaker including rotary interlock for secondary cover

A circuit breaker includes a housing and an operating mechanism having a cross bar supported by a first housing surface and moving in an arcuate path between open/tripped and closed positions, a pivotally mounted cradle including a latch, and pivotally mounted primary and secondary latches. The primary latch includes a pivot, an opening and a free end. The cradle latch rests within the opening when the contacts are not tripped open. The secondary latch includes a pivot and a surface. The latches are between a second housing surface and the cross bar in a first position. The cross bar is offset from the latches in a second position. The secondary latch surface and pivot are between the second housing surface and the primary latch pivot. The secondary latch surface engages the primary latch free end when the contacts are not tripped open and maintain the cradle latch within the opening.

Circuit breaker including a latchable cradle and a cross bar adapted to move in an arcuate path away from primary and secondary latches

A molded case circuit breaker incorporates vacuum switches operated by a toggle mechanism. Pole arms tied together by a cross bar are rotated simultaneously by the toggle mechanism. A drive link translates the rotational movement of each pole arm into linear movement of a driven member along the axis of the movable electrode of the associated vacuum switch. A coupling bracket has a base section secured to the movable electrode, longitudinal sections straddling the movable electrode axis and terminal sections extending inward toward the plane of rotation of the pole arm from the ends of the longitudinal sections. Coupling members extend from the driven member through slots in the terminal sections of the coupling bracket. Springs couple the free ends of the coupling members to the coupling bracket to open and close the vacuum switch with operation of the toggle mechanism.

Molded case circuit breaker including vacuum switch assembly

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Murrysville, PA, United States of America

Douglas Charles Marks