Heinemann Electric Company

Thomas Guinan

A mechanism for transmitting movement between switch handles of respective switches permits the actuation of a switch from one conductive state to another conductive state when an adjacent switch unit is actuated from a first conductive state to a second conductive state. Each of the switch units include respective switch handles which are movable between first and second stable positions to actuate the respective switch units between first and second conductive states. A rotatable rocking crank includes a pair of crank arms which project in divergent directions from the axis of rotation to respective positions immediately proximate to and on the same side of the respective switch handles so that rotational movement of the crank is limited in one rotational direction by one of the switch handles and in the other rotational direction by the other switch handle. The crank arms are oriented so that movement of one switch handle from its first position to its second position rotates the crank to drive the other switch handle from its second position back to its first position.

Mechanism for transmitting movement between switch handles of respective

A circuit breaker in which the case comprises two half-cases abutting together to jointly form the case. A handle link includes a handle with a portion extending through the half-cases. The half-cases have abutting, interfitting tongue and groove portions to increase the creepage and clearance distances from outside the circuit breaker to the closest electrically energized parts within the circuit breaker. Further the handle link and the half-cases have a pivotally semi-circular interfitting tongue and groove connection. The abutting, interfitting tongue and groove portions of the half-cases are disposed on both sides of said semi-circular connection and pivotally adjacent thereto so as to form a tongue and groove connection at the opening of the case through which the handle extends and on either side thereof. Also, the handle link has pintles pivotally extending into recesses provided therefor in the half-cases.

Circuit breaker with increased electrical spacing

A circuit breaker comprising a solenoid coil, an armature actuatable by the coil and a magnetizable frame carrying the coil enclosed with a case comprising two abutting half-cases. A time delay device comprising a tube of non-magnetic material within which is a movable magnetizable core and with which the coil cooperates to actuate the armature after a time delay period upon predetermined energization of the coil. The tube has a pole piece at one end and the armature has an attractable portion which moves toward said pole piece on predetermined overload conditions, the core being biased toward the end of the tube away from the pole piece. An adjustable cam is carried between said half-cases. Said attractable portion of the armature being biased by a spring into engagement with said cam and away from said pole piece. Said cam being rotatable to vary the air gap between said pole piece and said attractable portion of the armature, whereby the trip point of the circuit breaker may be varied.

Growing community of inventors

Hamilton Township, NJ, United States of America

Thomas Guinan