Remotely controlled solenoid operated circuit breaker
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A circuit breaker for use in energy management systems, comprising:
- an insulating housing having electrical terminals thereon;
separable contact means including a stationary contact member and a movable contact member disposed in the housing to form a circuit breaker path between the terminals;
manual actuating means within the housing for operating the circuit breaker and including an operating lever and a releasing lever for opening and closing the movable contact member;
the actuating means also including an assist lever operable on the movable contact member and cooperable with the operating lever to close the contacts;
first electromagnetic means for actuating the movable contact member and energized by an electric pulse for opening or closing the circuit from a remote circuit;
coupling means between the electromagnetic means and the movable contact member;
the operating lever being positioned to prevent closing of the contacts by the first electromagnetic means when the manual actuating means is in an open-contact position;
the movable contact member comprising an overcenter toggle structure;
the operating lever and the assist lever cooperating to move the toggle structure overcenter to the closed-contact position; and
the operating lever and the assist lever being disposed on opposite sides of the toggle structure; and
the coupling means comprises a bistable toggle mechanism operable to move the movable contact member only when the manual actuating means is in the closed-contact position and the first electromagnetic means includes lever means for actuating the bistable toggle mechanism.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A manually and remotely operated circuit breaker for use in energy management characterized by a manually operable overcenter toggle linkage mechanism for opening and closing a circuit, electromagnetic actuating current limiting means for opening the circuit in response to a short circuit, a bimetal in response to overload currents, and electromagnetic pulse actuated means for opening and closing the circuit in response to a control signal from a remote location when the manually operable means is open.
30 Citations
8 Claims
-
1. A circuit breaker for use in energy management systems, comprising:
-
an insulating housing having electrical terminals thereon; separable contact means including a stationary contact member and a movable contact member disposed in the housing to form a circuit breaker path between the terminals; manual actuating means within the housing for operating the circuit breaker and including an operating lever and a releasing lever for opening and closing the movable contact member; the actuating means also including an assist lever operable on the movable contact member and cooperable with the operating lever to close the contacts; first electromagnetic means for actuating the movable contact member and energized by an electric pulse for opening or closing the circuit from a remote circuit; coupling means between the electromagnetic means and the movable contact member; the operating lever being positioned to prevent closing of the contacts by the first electromagnetic means when the manual actuating means is in an open-contact position; the movable contact member comprising an overcenter toggle structure; the operating lever and the assist lever cooperating to move the toggle structure overcenter to the closed-contact position; and the operating lever and the assist lever being disposed on opposite sides of the toggle structure; and the coupling means comprises a bistable toggle mechanism operable to move the movable contact member only when the manual actuating means is in the closed-contact position and the first electromagnetic means includes lever means for actuating the bistable toggle mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A circuit breaker for use in energy management systems, comprising:
-
an insulating housing having electrical terminals thereon; separable contact means including a stationary contact member and a movable contact member disposed in the housing to form a circuit breaker path between the terminals; manual actuating means within the housing for operating the circuit breaker and including an operating lever and a releasing lever for opening and closing the separable contact means; the actuating means also including an assist lever operable on the movable contact member and cooperable with the operating lever to close the contacts; first electromagnetic means including lever means for actuating the movable contact member and energized by an electric pulse for opening or closing the circuit from a remote circuit; coupling means between the first electromagnetic means and the movable contact member and including a bistable overcenter toggle mechanism for movign the movable contact member only when the manual actuating means is in the closed-contact position and without actuating the manual actuating means from the closed-contact condition; the bistable overcenter toggle mechanism including a pivotally mounted body and a first spring-biased pawl on the body for movement between open and closed positions of the movable contact member in response to movement of the lever means so as to move said body between corresponding positions; and second electromagnetic means responsive to an overcurrent condition in the path of the circuit passing through the contacts for actuating the contacts to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (8)
-
Specification