Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Richard M Span

Willie B Freeman

Power circuit breaker apparatus having a novel trip valve on the pneumatic operating mechanism for reducing air consumption of the pneumatic breaker operating mechanism. The novel trip valve includes the addition of a valve stem extension to the trip valve shaft disposed in a sliding fit with an exhaust port to the trip valve actuating cylinder which together provide for quick elimination of compressed air from the trip valve actuating cylinder at a predetermined time during the operation of the breaker mechanism. Positive positioning of the breaker contact and rapid closing of the trip valve at a predetermined time is effectuated thereby reducing air consumption while providing a fail-safe air cushion to the driving piston of the pneumatic mechanism to insure positive positioning of the breaker contacts.

Pneumatic operating mechanism for a circuit breaker

A power circuit breaker has a novel trip valve on the pneumatic operating mechanism for reducing air consumption of the breaker pneumatic operating mechanism. The novel trip valve includes the addition of a valve stem extension to the trip valve shaft disposed in a sliding fit with an exhaust port to the trip valve actuating cylinder which together provide for quick elimination of compressed air from the trip valve actuating cylinder at a predetermined time during the operation of the breaker mechanism. Positive positioning of the breaker contact and rapid closing of the trip valve at a predetermined time is effectuated, thereby reducing air consumption while providing a fail-safe air cushion to the driving piston of the pneumatic mechanism to insure positive positioning of the breaker contacts.

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Penn Township, Westmoreland County, PA, United States of America

Richard M Span