Pivot-disconnecting circuit breaker

• US 5,594,610 A
• Filed: 03/14/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Robirds, Timothy G., Allen, Mark L., Baker, Ralph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Application Number:
  US08/403,330
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 361/104, 361/103, 361/115, 361/93, 361/39, 337/175
• US Class Current: 361/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0292 Transparent window or opening, e.g. for allowing visual inspection of contact position or contact condition
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 31/122 Fuses mounted on, or constituting the movable contact parts of, the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/122 actuated by blowing of a fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/104 with interlocking mechanism between switch and fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/16 Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/26 for interlocking two or more switches H01H13/568 takes precedence; by a detachable member H01H9/28 ; for electromagnetic relays H01H50/323
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 13/02 with metal casing

Abstract

A circuit interruption apparatus for a power circuit having a power source and a load includes a termination mechanism for interconnection with the power source and the load; a circuit interrupter having a line terminal and a load terminal for interrupting the power circuit between the power source and the load; and a pivot mechanism for pivoting the circuit interrupter between a first position wherein the line terminal and the load terminal are interconnected with the termination mechanism, and a second position wherein one of the line terminal and the load terminal is disconnected from the termination mechanism. Alternatively, a circuit interruption apparatus for the power circuit may include a line termination mechanism for interconnection with the power source; a circuit interrupter having a line terminal and a load termination mechanism for interconnection with the load; and a pivot mechanism for pivoting the circuit interrupter between the first position and the second position. Alternatively, a circuit interruption apparatus for a power circuit may include a circuit interrupter having a trip lever mechanism for tripping open the power circuit and for interrupting the power circuit between the power source and the load; and a fuse in series with the circuit interrupter between the power source and the load for interrupting the power circuit therebetween and having a striker pin for engaging the trip lever mechanism and tripping open the power circuit whenever the fuse interrupts the power circuit.

Claims

1. A circuit interruption apparatus for a power circuit having a power source and a load, said circuit interruption apparatus comprising:

termination means for interconnection with said power source and said load;

circuit interrupter means for interrupting said power circuit between said power source and said load, said circuit interrupter means including a line terminal and a load terminal;

pivot means for pivoting said circuit interrupter means between a first position wherein the line terminal and the load terminal are interconnected with said termination means, and a second position wherein one of the line terminal and the load terminal is disconnected from said termination means;

wherein a current flows in said power circuit between said power source and said load;

wherein said pivot means includes current transformer means for sensing the current; and

wherein said circuit interrupter means includes a circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal, and trip unit means for receiving the sensed current from the current transformer means and tripping open the circuit under predetermined conditions of the sensed current; and

wherein said pivot means further includes a pivot point and a pivot arm which is pivotally mounted at the pivot point;

wherein the current transformer means and the load termination means are both mounted to the pivot arm;

wherein the current transformer means has a hole; and

wherein the load termination means further includes load cable means for conducting the current through the hole of the current transformer means.

2. A circuit interruption apparatus for a power circuit having a power source and a load, said circuit interruption apparatus comprising;

termination means for interconnection with said power source and said load;

circuit interrupter means for interrupting said power circuit between said power source and said load, said circuit interrupter means including a line terminal and a load terminal; and

pivot means for pivoting said circuit interrupter means between a first position wherein the line terminal and the load terminal are interconnected with said termination means, and a second position wherein one of the line terminal and the load terminal is disconnected from said termination means, wherein said termination means includes line termination means for interconnection with said power source;

wherein said circuit interrupter means further includes connection means for connecting the line terminal to the line termination means; and

wherein said pivot means pivots said circuit interrupter means and said connection means between a connected position where the line terminal is interconnected with the line termination means and a disconnected position where the line terminal is disconnected from the line termination means;

wherein said termination means further includes load termination means fur interconnection with said load, the load termination means including fuse means and fuse holder means for holding the fuse means, the fuse means being in series with the load terminal and said load for interrupting said power source and said load;

wherein said circuit interrupter means further includes a circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal, and trip lever means for tripping open the circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal; and

wherein the fuse means includes striker pin means for engaging the trip lever means and opening the circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal whenever the fuse means interrupts said power circuit between said power source and said load;

wherein the striker pin means provides a striking force whenever the fuse means interrupts said power circuit between said power source and said load;

wherein the trip lever means has a minimum engaging force for opening the circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal, the minimum engaging force being larger than the striking force; and

wherein the fuse means further includes force amplification means for amplifying the striking fume and providing to the trip lever means an engaging force which at least equals the minimum engaging force.

3. A circuit interruption apparatus for a power circuit having a power source and a load, said circuit interruption apparatus comprising:

circuit interrupter means for interrupting said power circuit between said power source and said load, said circuit interrupter means including trip lever means for tripping open said power circuit; and

fuse means for interrupting said power circuit between said power source and said load, said fuse means being in series with said circuit interrupter means between said power source and said load and including striker pin means for engaging the trip lever means and tripping open said power circuit whenever said fuse means interrupts said power circuit, wherein the striker pin means provides a striking force whenever said fuse means interrupts said power circuit between said power source and said load;

wherein the trip lever means has a minimum engaging force for tripping open said power circuit, the minimum engaging force being larger than the striking force; and

wherein said fuse further includes force amplification means for amplifying the striking force and providing to the trip lever means an engaging force which at least equals the minimum engaging force.

4. A circuit interruption apparatus for a power circuit having a power source and a load, said circuit interruption apparatus comprising;

termination means for interconnection with said power source and said load;

circuit interrupter means for interrupting said power circuit between said power source and said load, said circuit interrupter means including a line terminal and the load terminal;

pivot means for pivoting said circuit interrupter means between a first position wherein the line terminal and the load terminal are interconnected with said termination means, and a second position wherein one of the line terminal and the load terminal is disconnected from said termination means, wherein said termination means includes line termination means for interconnection with said power source;

wherein said circuit interrupter means further includes connection means for connecting the line terminal to the line termination means; and

wherein said pivot means pivots said circuit interrupter means and said connection means between a connected position where the line terminal is interconnected with the line termination means and a disconnected position where the line terminal is disconnected from the line termination means; and

wherein said pivot means includes handle means for moving said circuit interrupter means between the connected position and the disconnected position, wherein said circuit interrupter means further includes a circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal; and

wherein said pivot means further includes handle interlock means for locking said circuit interrupter means in the connected position whenever the circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal is closed.

6. The circuit interruption apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said circuit interrupter means further includes status indication means for indicating an open status when the circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal is open;

and wherein said handle interlock means includes status communication means for communicating the open status to the handle interlock means in order to unlock said circuit interrupter means from the connected position.

5. A circuit interruption apparatus for a power circuit having a power source and a load, said circuit interruption apparatus comprising;

line termination means for interconnection with said power source;

circuit interrupter means for interrupting said power circuit between said power source and said load, said circuit interrupter means including a line terminal and load termination means fur interconnection with said load;

pivot means fur pivoting said circuit interrupter means between a first position wherein the line terminal is interconnected with said line termination means, and a second position wherein the line terminal is disconnected from said line termination means; and

wherein said load termination means includes a fuse means and a fuse holder means for holding the fuse means, the fuse means being in series with the load terminal and said load for interrupting said power circuit between said power source and said load, wherein said circuit interrupter means further includes a circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal, and trip lever means for tripping open the circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal; and

wherein the fuse means includes striker pin means for engaging the trip lever means and opening the circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal whenever the fuse means interrupts said power circuit between said power source and said load, wherein the striker pin means provides a striking force whenever the fuse means interrupts said power circuit between said power source and said load;

wherein the trip lever means has an engaging force for opening the circuit between the line terminal and the load terminal, the engaging force being larger than the striking force; and

wherein the fuse means further includes force amplification means for amplifying the striking force and providing the engaging force to the trip lever means.

7. The circuit interruption apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the force amplification means includes a lever pivotally mounted to a pivot point, the lever having a first arm which is movable by the striker pin means and a second arm which moves the trip lever means, the first arm being longer than the second arm in order to amplify the striking force of the striker pin means and provide the engaging force to the trip lever means.

8. The circuit interruption apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the force amplification means includes spring means for driving the trip lever means with the engaging force and holding means for holding the spring means whenever the fuse means interconnects said power circuit between said power source and said load, the holding means being movable by the striking force of the striker pin means from a hold position to a release position whenever the fuse means interrupts said power circuit between said power source and said load.

9. A circuit interruption apparatus for a power circuit having a power source and a load, said circuit interruption apparatus comprising;

termination means for interconnection with said power source and said load;

circuit interrupter means for interrupting said power circuit between said power source and said load, said circuit interrupter means including a line terminal and a load terminal;

pivot means for pivoting said circuit interrupter means between a first position wherein the line terminal are interconnected with said termination means, and a second position wherein one of line terminal and the load terminal is disconnected from said termination means, wherein said termination means includes line termination means with said power source;

wherein said circuit interrupter means further includes connection means; and

wherein said pivot means pivots said circuit interrupter means and said connection means between a connected position where the line terminal is interconnected with the line termination means and a disconnected position where the line terminal is disconnected from the line termination means; and

wherein the connection means includes a plurality of fingers interconnected with the line terminal;

wherein the line termination means includes a stab; and

wherein the plurality of fingers grasp the stab in the connected position and release the stab in the disconnected position.

10. The circuit interruption apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said circuit interrupter means has a proximate side and a distal side;

wherein the plurality of fingers are mounted adjacent the distal side of said circuit interrupter means; and

wherein said pivot means includes a housing for housing said circuit interrupter means therein, the housing including viewing means for viewing the plurality of fingers and the stab from the proximate side.

11. The circuit interruption apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the housing has a window;

and wherein the viewing means is a mirror for viewing the plurality of fingers and the stab through the window.