Arc fault circuit breaker

• US 6,545,574 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Guerrette, Michael, Magham, Murali, Seymour, Raymond K.
• Primary Examiner(s): DONOVAN, LINCOLN D
• Application Number:
  US09/683,348
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 335/18, 335/132, 335/202, 335/207, 335/8-10, 361/42-50
• US Class Current: 335/18
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/0278 with at least one of juxtaposed casings dedicated to an auxiliary device, e.g. for undervoltage or shunt trip
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/086 Low power connections for auxiliary switches, e.g. shunt trip
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2083/201 the other abnormal electrical condition being an arc fault
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/0271 Mounting several complete assembled circuit breakers together interconnected mechanisms H01H71/1009
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/123 using a solid-state trip unit circuits H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0015 Using arc detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49147 Assembling terminal to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor

Abstract

An arc fault circuit breaker assembled such that electrical interconnections, i.e., electrical connections between compartments, are made without disassembling any previously assembled compartment. The arc fault circuit breaker comprises housings having compartments within. Electrically connected components having interconnecting components, i.e., components which provide electrical interconnections between compartments, are disposed within the compartments. The housings are assembled together to enclose the compartments. Interconnecting components within an enclosed compartment extend through openings in the housings to provide electrical interconnections to the next compartment to be assembled. Therefore, no disassembly of the enclosed compartment is necessary to make the interconnections.

Claims

1. A circuit breaker comprising:

a first housing defining an open first compartment;

a second housing defining an open second compartment, and having a first opening configured therein to align with said open first compartment, said second housing assembled to said first housing to substantially enclose said first compartment;

a first plurality of electrically connected components disposed within said first compartment, said first plurality of electrically connected components including a first interconnecting component extending into said second compartment through said first opening;

a second plurality of electrically connected components disposed within said second compartment, said first interconnecting component providing electrical interconnection to said second plurality of components within said second compartment;

a third housing defining an open third compartment, and having a second opening configured therein to align with said open second compartment, said third housing assembled to said second housing to substantially enclose said second compartment;

a third plurality of electrically connected components disposed within said third compartment, said third plurality of components including a second interconnecting component providing electrical interconnection to said second plurality of components and to one component of said third plurality of components in said third compartment;

a fourth housing defining an open fourth compartment, and having a third opening configured therein to align with said open third compartment, said fourth housing assembled to said third housing to substantially enclose said third compartment;

a fourth plurality of electrically connected components disposed within said fourth compartment; and

said second interconnecting component of said third plurality of components having one end extending into said fourth compartment through said third opening, said second interconnecting component providing electrical interconnection to said fourth plurality of components within said fourth compartment.

2. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said circuit breaker is an arc fault circuit breaker.

3. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said circuit breaker is a two pole arc fault circuit breaker.

4. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said second interconnecting component comprises a second load current carrying component.

5. The circuit breaker of claim 2 wherein said fourth plurality of components includes a bi-metal resistor.

6. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said first housing, said second housing, and said first plurality of components further comprise a separate subassembly.

7. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said fourth housing and said fourth plurality of components further comprise a separate subassembly.

8. The circuit breaker of claim 6 wherein said first plurality of components includes a bi-metal resistor.

9. The circuit breaker of claim 6 wherein said first plurality of components includes a load lug.

10. The circuit breaker of claim 6 wherein said second plurality of components include a current sensing transformer.

11. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said second plurality of components include a neutral lug.

12. The circuit breaker of claim 11 wherein said second plurality of components include an electrical connection in said second compartment between said neutral lug and a neutral line.

13. The circuit breaker of claim 11 wherein said one component of said third plurality of components includes a load lug.

14. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said electrical interconnection to said second plurality of components comprises a weld, bolt or crimp.

15. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said electrical interconnection to said one component of said third plurality of components comprises a weld, bolt or crimp.

16. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said electrical interconnection to said one end of said second interconnecting component of said third plurality of components comprises reception within a terminal and a bolt in said fourth compartment.

17. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said third housing is configured to receive said an intermediate portion of said second interconnecting component.

18. The circuit breaker of claim 17 wherein said third housing is configured to align said one end of said second interconnecting component with a terminal in said fourth compartment.

19. The circuit breaker of claim 18 wherein said one end of said second interconnecting component is received in said terminal and retained with a bolt.

20. The circuit breaker of claim 19 wherein said bolt is accessible from outside of said fourth housing.

21. The circuit breaker of claim 18 wherein said terminal is further electrically engaged with one end of a bi-metal resistor in said fourth compartment.