Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.

Rodney C Kramer

Bernard DiMarco

Bruce D Guiney

A pivot joint for a movable contact arm assembly and a circuit breaker having an operating mechanism coupled to a line terminal, a trip mechanism and a load terminal with the load terminal coupled to a pivot mounting member. The pivot joint comprises a recess in a first sidewall of the contact arm with the recess co-axial with a mounting hole in the contact arm. A second recess is provided in a second sidewall of the contact arm with the second recess co-axial with the second mounting hole in the contact arm. The first and second recesses are co-axial with each other. A shaped washer, configured to fit in each of the first and second recesses is provided and maintained in position by a mounting axle configured to engage each shaped washer, each mounting hole and the pivot mounting member. The contact arm is then free to pivot about the mounting axle. A spring, with the spring configured to engage both ends of the mounting axle urge the contact arm against each shaped washer thereby completing the pivot joint. The two recesses formed in the contact arm can be in a facing relationship with each other and the shaped washers can be spherical.

Pivot joint for a movable contact arm in a molded case circuit breaker

The circuit breaker of the present invention is a molded case circuit breaker,having a moving contact,and crossbar assembly comprising a crossbar,having a formation pivotally mounted in the circuit breaker housing,with the formation having two spaced apart sidewalls,, with each sidewall,having a first cam surface,, a cam node,, a second cam surface,and a bearing surface,. Mounted in the formation, between the sidewalls,, is a moving contact arm assembly,that is mechanically coupled to the circuit breaker operating mechanism,and electrically coupled to the load terminal,of the circuit breaker,. The moving contact and crossbar assembly,comprises a movable contact arm,coupled to a pivot pin,positioned between the sidewalls,and in rotational contact with a bearing surface,of each sidewall,. The movable contact arm,is also provided with a roller pin,slidingly mounted in a slot in the arm with the roller pin,in operative contact with the first and second cam surfaces,of the sidewalls,. A contact arm pressure spring,is coupled to the pivot pin 818 and the roller pin,with the contact arm pressure spring,providing the force to keep the movable contact arm,in the &ldquo;ON&rdquo; position. The crossbar and the moving contact arm assembly,rotates on a common axis coincident with the pivot pin,. The movable contact arm,has a first end,and a second end,and includes a first member,and a second member,, with each member configured to define an open space,between the members at the first end,and coupled together at the second end,. The contact arm pressure spring,is mounted within the open space,between the two members of the movable contact arm,. One embodiment of the present invention provides for a one piece crossbar and formation.

Moving contact and crossbar assembly for a molded case circuit breaker

A multi-phase circuit breaker assembly,includes a circuit breaker,having a housing,containing circuit breaker operating components and having a gas venting chamber,associated with each phase of the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a plurality of line wiring terminals,at a first end,of the housing. Each line wiring terminal corresponds to a phase of the circuit breaker. A terminal cover,is removably coupled to the first end of the housing so as to cover the line wiring terminals and prevent access to the line wiring terminals when coupled to the first end of the housing, and to gain access to the line wiring terminals only when removed from the first end of the housing. The terminal cover,includes a plurality of vent structures,integrally formed therewith. Each vent structure is in communication with an associated gas venting chamber and each vent structure is isolated from each other such that arc gases generated in each phase of the circuit breaker are exhausted through an associated vent structure with arc gases from one phase being prevented 1) from coming into contact with arc gases or line wiring terminals of a different phase, and 2) from coming into contact with wiring terminals of the same phase, thereby preventing a short circuit.

Circuit breaker terminal cover with integrated arc chamber vents

A circuit breaker including a contact operating mechanism configured to prevent the switch handle of the circuit breaker from being placed in an OFF position when the contacts are not separable. In addition to the switch handle, the mechanism is operable with a tripping circuit which actuates the mechanism to urge the contacts apart when the current flowing through the circuit breaker exceeds the preset limits of the circuit breaker. When the contacts are not separable and the tripping circuit actuates the mechanism, the operating handle is restricted from being placed in the OFF position, thereby avoiding the possibility of indicating an incorrect position of the contacts.

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Snellville, GA, United States of America

Rodney C Kramer