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:
Feb. 13, 1990
Filed:
Mar. 20, 1989
E R Eley, Athens, GA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A circuit breaker having a fixed current contact (12,14), a movable current contact (16,18), a mechanism (20,22,54,66,68) for displacing the movable current contact (16,18) between a circuit closing position and a circuit opening position, and a latching member (32,34) disposed to cooperate with the mechanism (20,22,54,66,68) and movable in response to the magnitude of current flowing through the circuit to be controlled in order to cause the mechanism (20,22,54,66,68) to move the movable contact (16,18) in a manner to open the circuit when the magnitude of current flow exceeds a certain value, movement of the latching member (32,34) being controlled by a memory metal element (40,42) which is mechanically connected to the latching member (32,34) and electrically connected in the circuit to be heated by current flowing through the circuit to cause the latching member (32,34) to release the mechanism (20,22,54,66,68) when the current flowing through the circuit exceeds a given value for a selected period of time. The circuit breaker is further provided with a remotely located control unit (140-166 ) which is coupled to the circuit breaker mechanism (20,22,54,66,68) by a cable (78). The circuit breaker is further provided with an emergency locking device (180,188) which is manually movable into a locking position for preventing the mechanism (20,22,54,66,68) from moving upon being released by the latching member (32,34).