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:
Apr. 06, 1993
Filed:
Jun. 18, 1990
Lance Gula, Aliquippa, PA (US);
Perry R Gibson, Beaver Falls, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for an electrical circuit breaker for preventing the handle thereof from being moved to the OFF position when the electrical contacts of the circuit breaker are welded closed. This apparatus mechanically limits the travel of the operating handle so that it may not be moved to the OFF position when the electrical contacts are closed. This restrictor apparatus as it is called is mechanically connected to, but out of direct contact with the handle arm of the circuit breaker. The mechanical linkage between the operating handle and the contact arm of the circuit breaker includes a projection. During the foregoing condition, the projection will interact with a crossbar assembly for the contact arm of the circuit breaker. If an attempt is made to move the handle to the OFF position while the contacts remain welded closed, the crossbar assembly is oriented with respect to the path of travel of the projection to prevent the projection from movement past the crossbar assembly and thus to prevent movement of the handle to the OFF position. If, however, the contacts are open as an attempt is made to move the handle to the OFF position, the crossbar assembly will become disposed differently relative to the path of travel of the projection such that the projection will freely move past the crossbar assembly thus allowing the handle mechanism to be moved completely to the OFF position.