Multipole circuit breaker with modular assembly

• US 5,479,143 A
• Filed: 12/19/1994
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Merlin Gerin
• Original Assignee: Merlin Gerin
• Inventors: Payet-Burin, Jean-Luc
• Primary Examiner(s): DONOVAN, LINCOLN D
• Application Number:
  US08/358,671
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 335/8-10, 335/16, 335/147, 335/195, 335/202, 200/144 R
• US Class Current: 335/202
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/1036 having provisions for four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/0228 having provisions for interchangeable or replaceable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/1009 Interconnected mechanisms H01H71/1045 takes precedence; operated by excess current and other electrical conditions H01H83/20
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/16 with bimetal element combined with detection of imbalance of two or more currents H01H83/223
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/24 Electromagnetic mechanisms

Abstract

Each breaking module is formed by a parallelepipedic monoblock cartridge made of plastic material, housed in the corresponding compartment of the base plate, said cartridge housing at least a stationary contact, an arc extinguishing chamber, and a pair of connecting strips for connection to a terminal and to the trip module of the same pole. A mechanical actuation module constituted by the switching bar and mechanism assembly, is securedly united to the cover. The rotary trip bar is supported by clipping means, arranged on the bottom face of the cover. A plurality cf recesses and cutouts are arranged in the spacers of the base plate to act as first bearing surfaces respectively for the switching bar and trip bar when the first sub-assembly A composed of the base plate with the set of breaking modules and trip modules, is adjoined with the second sub-assembly B formed by the cover on which the mechanical actuation module, trip bar and latch are fitted.

Claims

1. A multipole circuit breaker, comprising:

a molded insulating case having a base plate subdivided by spacers to form a plurality of juxtaposed compartments each having a pole, and a cover having an aperture secured onto the base plate to the close the insulating case, each pole comprising a breaking module and a trip module housed in a respective compartment, said breaking module and said trip module being secured to the base plate, each breaking module including a parallelepipedic plastic monoblock cartridge which houses at least one stationary contact, an arc extinguishing chamber and a pair of connecting strips for electrical connection to a terminal and to a respective trip module;

a mechanical actuation module secured to said cover and including an operating mechanism and a switching bar, said operating mechanism being mounted between a pair of support plates and including a toggle device having a tripping hook and a connecting spring, the toggle device being rotatable from closed to open positions via tripping of the tripping hook and a biasing force from the connecting spring, said switching bar being comprised of insulating material and supporting a plurality of movable contacts, each being cooperable with a respective stationary contact of a breaking module, said switching bar being mechanically coupled to the toggle device;

a latch adapted to engage the tripping hook;

a handle coupled to said operating mechanism and passing through the aperture in the cover;

a rotary trip bar clipped via clipping means to said cover and being rotatable to engage said latch to trip the poles of the circuit breaker via action of the trip modules, wherein a plurality of recesses are provided in the spacers of the base plate to form first bearing surfaces for the switching bar and the rotary trip bar.

2. The circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein each cartridge comprises a front panel having an orifice through which a respective movable contact extends, and two parallel large side panels which are connected to each other by said front panel, said first bearing surfaces further including notches formed in the large side panels, said notches being aligned with the recesses of the spacers.

3. The circuit breaker of claim 2, wherein the rotary trip bar includes at least two cylindrical bearing sections, each extending between two adjacent first bearing surfaces.

4. The circuit breaker of claim 3, wherein the support plates of the operating mechanism have a curved outer peripheral portion to form second bearing surfaces on which said rotary trip bar rotates.

5. The circuit breaker of claim 2, wherein at least one of the spacers includes an elongated open channel extending along a longitudinal direction of the at least one of the spacers, said rotary trip bar further including at least one centering ring which engages the channel.

6. The circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein the two support plates of the operating mechanism include positioning lugs which rest on the spacers of the base plate.

7. The circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein said clipping means comprises at least two pairs of flexible gripping tabs extending from said cover, the pairs of gripping tabs being spaced apart to receive opposite ends of the rotary trip bar, the rotary trip bar including at least two cylindrical bearing portions which rotate on the recesses of the spacers.

8. The circuit breaker of claim 2, wherein each cartridge further comprises two opposite parallel small side panels which connect the large side panels to each other, the connecting strips extending perpendicularly to the small side panels.