Circuit breaker assembly

• US 6,075,436 A
• Filed: 05/18/1999
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheng Chao Hsu
• Original Assignee: Cheng Chao Hsu
• Inventors: Hsu, Cheng Chao
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US09/314,274
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 337/312, 337/363, 337/77, 337/78, 337/100-102, 337/107, 337/141, 337/333, 337/370, 337/377, 337/381, 337/318, 337/365, 337/390, 337/89, 337/131, 337/362
• US Class Current: 337/363
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 37/5418 using cantilevered bimetallic snap elements
• 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 73/26 reset by tumbler
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/20 operated by excess current as well as by some other abnormal electrical condition

Abstract

A circuit breaker assembly, which is responsive to both current overload and thermal overheat or over-cold, includes a circuit breaker switch containing a current release device arranged in a housing to be responsive to a current overload and operative to permit a respective contact spring to move a corresponding movable contact away from a fixed contact upon the occurrence of a current overload and independently of the position of a switching rocker; and a thermal release actuator received in the housing for can automatically providing an actuating action to operate another respective contact spring to move another corresponding movable contact away from another fixed contact when a temperature of a predetermined surrounding zone is overheated or over-cold. The circuit breaker further includes at least a thermal detector disposed within the surrounding zone for breaking a current flowing therethrough when a temperature therearound is overheated or over-cold that reaches a predetermined temperature; and a connecting circuit for electrically connecting the thermal detector in parallel with the circuit breaker switch.

Claims

1. A circuit breaker assembly, comprising:

a thermal detector to break a first current flowing therethrough when a surrounding temperature around said thermal detector changes from a normal temperature to a predetermined temperature;

a circuit breaker switch comprising;

a housing;

having walls

a pair of contact springs each affixed at one end in said housing and carrying a movable contact at a free end thereof, and biased to urge said movable contact away from an associated fixed contact;

a switching rocker pivotally mounted in said housing to selectively move between a breaker closing position so as to act on said contact spring to urge said movable contact toward said fixed contact and a breaker opening position in which said switching rocker permits said contact spring to move said movable contact away from said fixed contact, said switching rocker being mounted to pivot about an axis which extends approximately perpendicular to said length of said contact spring;

a current release device arranged in said housing to be responsive to a current overload and operative to permit said respective contact spring to move said movable contact thereof away from said corresponding fixed contact upon said occurrence of a current overload and independently of said position of said switching rocker; and

a thermal release actuator received in said housing to automatically provide an actuating action to operate said respective contact spring to move said movable contact thereof away from said corresponding fixed contact when said surrounding temperature around said thermal detector changes from said normal temperature to said predetermined temperature; and

a connecting circuit to electrically connect said thermal detector in parallel with said thermal release actuator of said breaker switch, wherein a main current which flows through said thermal release actuator is divided into said first current flowing through said thermal detector and a second current flowing through said thermal release actuator of said circuit breaker switch.

2. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein a pair of first connecting lugs and a pair of second connecting lugs spacedly project out of said housing and are secured tightly in said housing by being twisted, said current release device comprising a bimetal strip which is fastened to one of said first connecting lugs and connected with a bimetal strip lead of one of said second connecting lugs.

3. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 2, wherein said thermal release actuator comprises an actuating piece made of thermostatic metal (bi-metal), an insulating sleeve covering a front portion of said actuating piece, and an electrical heat wire wrapping around said insulating sleeve, wherein said electrical heat wire has a first end electrically connected to said actuating piece and a second end electrically connected to another of said second connecting lugs which is not structurally connected with said first connecting lugs and said actuating piece, said insulating sleeve acting as an insulating layer between the surface of said actuating piece and said heat wire to avoid electrical contact therebetween, a rear portion of said actuating piece being connected to said another of said first connecting lugs.

4. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 3, wherein fixed ends of said two contact springs are welded to two of said first connecting lugs respectively to form a conductive connection therewith, and each of said fixed contacts is permanently connected to a contact terminal which forms a one-piece unit with a third connecting lug which is likewise fastened in said wall of housing.

5. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 4, wherein said thermal detector comprises a first contact member made of electrical conducting material such as brass, a second contact member made of thermostatic metal (bi-metal) and an insulating connector connected between a connecting end of said second contact member and a first end of said first contact member, wherein a second end of said first contact member protrudes a first contact point facing to said second contact member.

6. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 5, wherein said second contact member is normally remained in contact with said first contact member, said second contact member having a contact end which protrudes a contact point normally pressed against said first contact point, wherein when said surrounding temperature around said thermal detector reaches said predetermined temperature, said second contact member bends away from said first contact member so as to break contact with said first and second contact members, therefore said first current flowing through said first and second contact members is cut off.

7. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 6, wherein on said second contact member, a circular convex groove is formed.

8. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein said thermal release actuator comprises an actuating piece made of thermostatic metal, a conducting terminal piece connected to said actuating piece, an insulating sleeve covering a portion of said actuating piece, and an electrical heat wire wrapping around said insulating sleeve, wherein said electrical heat wire has a first end electrically connected to said actuating piece and a second end electrically connected to said connecting circuit.

9. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 8, wherein said thermal detector enables said first current to flow therethrough again when said surrounding temperature around said thermal detector returns to said normal temperature.

10. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 9, wherein said first current contains more than 50% of said main current and said second current contains less than 50% of said main current.

11. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 9, wherein said thermal detector comprises a first contact member made of electrical conducting material, a second contact member made of thermostatic metal and an insulating connector connected between a connecting end of said second contact member a nd said first contact member, wherein said second contact member is normally remained in contact with said first contact member, however when said surrounding temperature around said thermal detector reaches said predetermined temperature, said second contact member bends away from said first contact member to break contact with said first contact member.

12. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 10, wherein said thermal detector comprises a first contact member made of electrical conducting material, a second contact member made of thermostatic metal and an insulating connector connected between a connecting end of said second contact member and said first contact member, wherein said second contact member is normally remained in contact with said first contact member, however when said surrounding temperature around said thermal detector reaches said predetermined temperature, said second contact member bends away from said first contact member to break contact with said first contact member.

13. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 8, wherein said connecting circuit comprises an input terminal, an output terminal, a first connecting wire electrically connected to said thermal detector between said input and output terminals, and a second connecting wire which is extended between said input and output terminals in parallel with said first connecting wire so as to electrically connect said circuit breaker switch between said input and out put terminals.

14. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 11, wherein said connecting circuit comprises an input terminal, an output terminal, a first connecting wire electrically connected to said thermal detector between said input and output terminals, and a second connecting wire which is extended between said input and output terminals in parallel with said first connecting wire so as to electrically connect said circuit breaker switch between said input and out put terminals.

15. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 11, wherein an end of said first contact member protrudes a first contact point facing to said second contact member and said second contact member has a contact end which protrudes a contact point arranged to be normally in contact with said first contact point.

16. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 15, wherein on said second contact member, a circular convex groove is formed.

17. A circuit breaker assembly, as recited in claim 12, wherein an end of said first contact member protrudes a first contact point facing to said second contact member and said second contact member has a contact end which protrudes a contact point arranged to be normally in contact with said first contact point.

18. A circuit assembly, as recited in claim 17, wherein on said second contact member, a circular convex groove is formed.

19. A circuit assembly, as recited in claim 8, wherein said first current contains more than 90% of said main current and said second current contains less than 10% of said main current.

20. A circuit assembly, as recited in claim 9, wherein said first current contains more than 90% of said main current and said second current contains less than 10% of said main current.