Three phase remote control circuit breaker

• US 3,914,722 A
• Filed: 10/04/1974
• Issued: 10/21/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward A. Mallonen
• Original Assignee: Edward A. Mallonen
• Inventors: Mallonen, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Broome, Harold
• Application Number:
  US05/512,174
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 335/44,43,39,40,41,8,9,10,169 317/33SC
• US Class Current: 335/44
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/467 with history indication, e.g. of trip and/or kind of trip, number of short circuits etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/162 with compensation for ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/46 having means for operating auxiliary contacts additional to the main contacts

Abstract

A three phase electromagnetically operated circuit breaker for use in a remote control circuit breaker system is disclosed. It features unitary enclosure and mounting of the stationary and movable contact mechanisms, the electromagnetic operating mechanism, the thermally responsive contact trip release mechanism, and the electronic control for the circuit breaker system. The contact trip mechanism is responsive to overload currents in one or more of the phase branches and features novel differential action ambient temperature compensation afforded by ambient temperature responsive bimetal members individual to each of the three phases.

Claims

1. An electrical circuit breaker for remote control operation, comprising:

a. a plurality of power contact means including pairs of stationary contacts and associated movable contactors;

b. reciprocably movable means operable to close said contactors to said stationary contacts and reopen the same;

c. electromagnetic operating means including a pair of spaced apart coil means and an armature pivotally mounted between and movable from one to another extreme pivotal positions by selective energization of said coil means;

d. a lever pivotally mounted on said armature and having connection adjacent one end with said reciprocably movable means;

e. a pivotally mounted latch catch biased into engagement with said lever adjacent its other end;

f. a pivotally mounted latch biased into latching relation with said latch catch to constrain it and said lever against pivotal movement;

g. bimetal members in circuit with each of said power contact means;

h. means mounted on said latch and comprising portions engageable by said bimetal members when the latter warp under the influence of overload currents to thereby cause pivoting of said latch out of engagement with said latch catch, and a member having a plurality of spaced apart arms which are in line with respective ones of said bimetal members and a corresponding number of ambient temperature compensator bimetal members secured at corresponding ends to said latch and at their other ends to the last recited member, said compensator bimetal members when subjected to heat differentially tending to pivot said last recited member away from the first mentioned bimetal members;

i. said latch catch, upon release by said latch, and said lever both pivoting under the bias imposed on said reciprocably movable means to release the latter for contact opening movement.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said compensator bimetal members each have intermediate sections of helical form.

3. The combination according to claim 1 together with a molded insulating housing in which the components of the circuit breaker are housed and arranged to function as aforedescribed, said housing having interior barrier portions which electrically isolate each of said power contact means from each other, and afford substantial thermal isolation between any set of main bimetal members and an associated compensator bimetal member and the other sets of the same members.

4. The combination according to claim 1 together with an auxiliary switch having an operator normally biased to an extended position and wherein said lever has a portion which engages and holds said switch inoperative in a given position against its bias whenever said other end of said lever is constrained against pivotal movement.

5. The combination according to claim 4 together with a second auxiliary switch having an operator normally biased to an extended position and wherein said reciprocably movable means includes means to engage, move and release the operator of said second switch in accordance with opening and closing operation of said power contact means.