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:
Aug. 03, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 10, 1998
Yu Wei Chou, Moontownship, PA (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A circuit breaker includes a releasable retaining mechanism for releasably retaining a movable contact arm of the circuit breaker to prevent 'sneak' during movement of the contact arm to the closed position, as well as, to prevent 'bounce' during movement of the contact arm to the open position. The releasable retaining mechanism preferably includes a hook member rigidly secured to the movable contact arm and a retaining spring secured to the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The hook member engages the retaining spring when the movable contact arm is in the open position. The releasable retaining mechanism further includes a release finger extending from the operating mechanism adjacent the retaining spring, the release finger being positioned to contact the retaining spring when an operating handle of the circuit breaker is moved to actuate the operating mechanism in order to place the movable contact arm in a closed position. This results in the hook member being released from engagement with the retaining spring, allowing the movable contact arm to be rapidly rotated to the closed position.