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. 03, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 26, 1996
H Richard Beck, Coraopolis, PA (US);
Richard E White, Brighton Township, PA (US);
Kenneth M Fischer, Union, PA (US);
Roger W Helms, Beaver Falls, PA (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A circuit breaker includes a housing; separable contacts moveable between closed and open positions; an operating mechanism, for moving the separable contacts between the closed and open positions, having a first latched position and a second unlatched position corresponding to the open position of the separable contacts, and including a pair of cradles pivotally supported about a pivot axis within the housing to pivot in a first pivotal direction to the first position of the operating mechanism and a second pivotal direction to the second position of the operating mechanism; a handle mechanism for moving the cradles in the first pivotal direction; a latch mechanism for latching the operating mechanism in the first position thereof and for releasing the operating mechanism to the second position thereof, including a latch plate pivotally supported within the housing having two opposing elongated openings, a roller pin cross member generally parallel to the cradle pivot axis supported by the latch plate at each of the openings, and a spring mechanism for biasing the cross member with respect to the cradles; and a trip mechanism cooperating with the latch mechanism for releasing the operating mechanism to the second position thereof. An arcuate reset surface of the cradles independently engages a corresponding end of the cross member when the operating mechanism is moved toward the first position thereof. The cross member engages a linear latch surface of the cradles for latching the operating mechanism in the first position thereof.