Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Nicholas A Tomasic

Carl J Heyne

Alfred E Maier

James R Farley

Jiing-Liang Wu

George N Kovatch

Richard Rosey

Raymond E Wien

Ned H Simon

Eugene H Seidling

Roger D Moates

Charles W Leah

The trip mechanism of a molded case type circuit breaker is actuated by a plunger that is integral with and axially extends from the end of a reciprocally-movable core member of a solenoid mounted within the breaker housing. The free end of the plunger strikes the trip bar of the breaker when the solenoid is energized in response to a current overload condition in the circuit being protected. The solenoid core member and plunger are mechanically locked in NO-TRIP position by spring-biased keeper means that is automatically released from its 'lock' position by the magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil when it is energized. A spring automatically resets the trip-actuating assembly when the current-overload condition has been corrected and the solenoid coil is deenergized. The trip-actuating assembly is not only compact, reliable and inexpensive but is inherently adapted to withstand severe mechanical shocks and impacts, such as those encountered aboard naval vessels, and is thus especially suited for use in circuit breakers that will be employed to protect electrical circuits and equipment subjected to such rough service conditions.

Circuit breaker having shock-proof trip-actuating assembly

An arc chute assembly for a circuit breaker or similar device comprising a series of metallic arc chute plates that are locked in stacked spaced-apart relationship between a pair of insulative side panels by elongated key members of non-conductive material that are wedged between the flat surfaces of the side panels and notched portions of pairs of T-shaped tabs which extend from each side edge of the respective plates. The tabs interlockingly engage a series of laterally-extending slot openings in the side panels in such a manner that the key members are in press-fitted engagement with only one of the tabs in each pair of tabs.

Arc chute assembly for circuit breaker

A magnetically operated circuit breaker characterized by a circuit breaker structure including first and second separable contacts operable between open and closed positions, a releasable mechanism movable when released to a tripped position to effect automatic opening of the contacts, the first contact being connected to the releasable mechanism, the second contact being movable between open and closed positions of the first contact, and electromagnetic actuating means for moving the second contact between open and closed position in response to a control signal generated remotely from the circuit breaker.

Magnetically operated circuit breaker

A low energy mechanically driven and electromagnetically actuated ground fault trip indicator is taught. The ground fault trip indicator utilizes the magnetic flux of a permanent magnet in a first flux path to maintain a movable armature biased against a spring. An electromagnet is disposed to provide magnetic flux in opposition to the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet. The electromagnet is not energized for providing the opposing flux until a pulse is received from an appropriate ground fault trip detecting circuit. When the appropriate pulse of energy is applied to the electromagnet, a portion of the flux of the permanent magnet is cancelled allowing the spring to force the armature into a new position. In this position the flux of the permanent magnet is reestablished in a second flux path. When the indicator is in the latter position indication of the occurrence of a ground fault is given.

Magnetic flux shifting ground fault trip indicator

An electrical switchboard including a horizontal main supply bus and a vertical riser bus mounted within a cabinet structure. The conductors of the vertical riser bus include front and rear flanges connected by a web portion to form an I-shaped cross section. Line side stab connectors are mounted directly to the front flanges using bolts and press nuts seated in the front flange. Riser support members and load side extension support members are mounted upon the rear flanges.

Electrical switchboard apparatus including double-flanged vertical riser

A circuit interrupter particularly suitable for use in an oil filled distribution transformer having an elongated contact arm pivotable about one end with a movable contact attached to the other end through suitable insulating members to electrically isolate the movable contact from the elongated contact arm. The movable contact is a bridging contact for completing a series circuit through two stationary contacts. The movable bridging contact is spring biased away from the elongated contact arm. A retainer restricts the movement of the bridging contact away from the insulating members attached to the elongated contact arm. The biasing spring is disposed between the insulating members and the retainer. Grooves formed in the sides of the insulating members restrict rotational movement of the retainer and bridging contact. For larger circuit interrupters, a bridging contact assembly can be utilized having a plurality of parallel bridging contacts and a plurality of biasing springs. The elongated contact arm is biased towards an open position when the bridging contact is separate from the stationary contacts, but with the circuit interrupter in the normally closed position is held in a closed position wherein the bridging contact is in engagement with the stationary contact. A latching mechanism which is responsive to a bimetal or magnetic trip to allow the circuit breaker to trip open during overload conditions, holds the elongated contact arm in the closed position.

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Plum Borough, PA, United States of America

Nicholas A Tomasic