CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS WITH LOCKOUT FEATURE AND RELATED METHODS
First Claim
1. A circuit breaker, comprising:
- a housing with a line side and a load side;
a printed circuit board in the housing;
a movable contact arm with an electrical contact;
a stationary line side electrical contact;
a primary trip solenoid in the housing coupled to the printed circuit board;
an armature in the housing;
a bimetal member in the housing adjacent the armature and adjacent the primary trip solenoid; and
a lockout assembly in the housing, the lockout assembly comprising a rod configured to have a first inactive position and a second lockout position, wherein, only when in the second lockout position and/or as the rod travels to the second lockout position, the rod directly or indirectly pushes the armature toward the bimetal member to physically lock out the circuit breaker to prevent conduction and separate the line side electrical contact from the movable contact arm electrical contact.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Circuit breakers are disclosed that include a housing with a line side and a load side, a printed circuit board in the housing, a movable contact arm with an electrical contact, a stationary line side contact, a primary trip solenoid in the housing coupled to the printed circuit board, an armature in the housing, a bimetal member in the housing adjacent the armature and adjacent the primary trip solenoid; and a lockout assembly in the housing. The lockout assembly includes a rod configured to have a first inactive position and a second lockout position. When in the second position and/or as the rod travels to the second lockout position, the rod directly or indirectly pushes the armature toward the bimetal member to physically lock out the circuit breaker to prevent conduction and separate the line side contact from the movable contact arm electrical contact.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit breaker, comprising:
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a housing with a line side and a load side; a printed circuit board in the housing; a movable contact arm with an electrical contact; a stationary line side electrical contact; a primary trip solenoid in the housing coupled to the printed circuit board; an armature in the housing; a bimetal member in the housing adjacent the armature and adjacent the primary trip solenoid; and a lockout assembly in the housing, the lockout assembly comprising a rod configured to have a first inactive position and a second lockout position, wherein, only when in the second lockout position and/or as the rod travels to the second lockout position, the rod directly or indirectly pushes the armature toward the bimetal member to physically lock out the circuit breaker to prevent conduction and separate the line side electrical contact from the movable contact arm electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a current interrupter comprising:
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providing a circuit interrupter with a permanent lockout assembly; electronically monitoring or testing or monitoring and testing for defined end-of-life conditions or events of the circuit interrupter; and automatically deploying a rod of a lock out assembly to slide toward an armature and push the armature toward a bimetal member to permanently block conduction of the circuit interrupter. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification