The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 13, 1988
Filed:
Dec. 09, 1987
Robert H Flick, Brighton Township, Beaver County, PA (US);
Walter K Huffman, Towamencin Township, Montgomery County, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A molded case circuit breaker includes a movable upper electrical contact having a base portion formed at one longitudinal end thereof with an elongated stop pin fixedly secured thereto and outwardly projecting therefrom for engaging one or more elongated upper spring arms of one or more torsion springs. A lower spring arm of each torsion spring is disposed in contact with a cross bar of an operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. During normal operation, the stop pin loads the upper spring arm with a force at a distance relatively close to the fulcrum of each torsion spring to cause the movement of the upper electrical contact in unison with the cross bar. In the presence of a high level short circuit or fault current condition, the stop pin, upon the rotational movement of the upper electrical contact, moves along the length of the upper spring arm of each torsion spring, increasing the distance between the location of the stop pin and the fulcrum of each torsion spring to decrease the spring force applied by each torsion spring to the upper electrical contact. The reduced spring force retains the upper electrical contact separated from the lower electrical contact.