Merlin Gerin

Jean Bonfils

Marc Rival

Denis Vial

The contact bridge of a molded case circuit breaker is rotatably mounted in a bar by two springs arranged symmetrically from the rotation axis. Each spring is, on the one hand, anchored to the contact bridge, and, on the other hand, anchored to a rod housed in a notch of the bar. The same springs provide contact pressure and slowing-down of opening of the contact bridge at the end of repulsion travel by electrodynamic effect. The contact bridge bears on its edge cam surfaces which, at the end of opening travel, engage the anchoring rods to move them in the notches in the elongation direction of the tension springs. The energy of the contact bridge is thus taken up and stored in the springs causing slowing-down of the contact bridge. The profile of the cams can be chosen to enable reclosing of the contact bridge, this reclosing naturally being delayed by the slowing-down effect at the end of travel. The cam profile can also ensure latching of the contact bridge in the open position.

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Seyssins, France

Jean Bonfils