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. 13, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 18, 2002
Christian V. Pellon, Norton, MA (US);
Nicholas V. Pellon, Norton, MA (US);
William J. Bentley, North Attleboro, MA (US);
Eric W. Morrison, Woonsocket, RI (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A thermally compensated circuit breaker has a movable contact assembly ( ) which mounts a movable electrical contact ( ) for movement between open and closed contacts positions with a stationary electrical contact ( ). The contacts are maintained in the closed circuits position by a latching mechanism ( ) which prevents opening of the contacts through an opening contacts force provided by a spring ( ). A current carrying trip arm ( ) deflects upon sufficient I R heating to transfer motion to the latch to separate the latch ( ) from the latch receiving catch ( ) to trip the circuit breaker. The trip arm ( ) is part of a pivotably mounted actuator assembly ( ) having a movable end portion spaced from the pivot disposed adjacent a motion transfer member ( ). A calibration screw ( ) is located so that the longitudinal axis is in line with a movable end portion of the actuator assembly and the motion transfer member. In one embodiment the head of the calibration screw is captured in a slot in the free end of a calibration base ( ) attached to the trip arm so that deflection of the trip arm directly transfers motion to the motion transfer member and in another embodiment the calibration screw head is captured in a slot in the free end of the trip arm so that a bowing deflection of the trip arm causes a calibration base ( ) to which it is attached at an end thereof to rotate with the calibration base directly transferring motion to the motion transfer member.