Circuit breaker including open neutral interlock

• US 7,440,250 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Terhorst, Bruce R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leja; Ronald W
• Application Number:
  US11/290,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 361/42, 361/115
• US Class Current: 361/115
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/62 with means for preventing resetting while abnormal condition persists, e.g. loose handle arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/04 with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly

Abstract

A circuit breaker includes line and load terminals, separable contacts electrically connected between the line and load terminals, and a line neutral pigtail. An operating mechanism including an operating handle is adapted to open and close the contacts. A trip circuit responds to current flowing through the contacts and cooperates with the operating mechanism in response to predetermined current conditions to open the contacts. The trip circuit is powered from the line terminal and the line neutral pigtail. A solenoid includes a plunger and a coil, which is energized from the line terminal and the line neutral pigtail. The plunger engages the operating handle when the coil is not energized to prevent movement of the handle from the open to the closed position thereof. The plunger disengages from the operating handle when the coil is energized to permit movement of the handle from the open to the closed position thereof.

Claims

1. A circuit breaker comprising:

a line connection;

a load connection;

separable contacts electrically connected between said line connection and said load connection;

a line neutral connection;

an operating mechanism adapted to open and close said separable contacts, said operating mechanism moving between an open position wherein said line connection is electrically disconnected from said load connection and a closed position wherein said line connection is electrically connected to said load connection;

a trip circuit responsive to current flowing through said separable contacts and cooperating with said operating mechanism in response to predetermined current conditions to open said separable contacts, said trip circuit being powered from said line connection and said line neutral connection; and

an electro-mechanical device including a coil and a plunger, said coil being energized from said line connection and said line neutral connection, said plunger directly contacting said operating mechanism when said coil is not energized to prevent movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof, said plunger being separated from said operating mechanism when said coil is energized to permit movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof.

2. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said line connection is a line terminal and said load connection is a load terminal.

3. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said line neutral connection is a line neutral pigtail.

6. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said trip circuit includes a ground fault trip circuit powered from said line connection and said line neutral connection.

7. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said trip circuit includes an arc fault trip circuit powered from said line connection and said line neutral connection.

8. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said trip circuit includes an arc fault trip circuit and a ground fault trip circuit powered from said line connection and said line neutral connection.

9. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said electro-mechanical device is a solenoid.

10. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said trip circuit is powered from said line neutral connection and from said line connection when said separable contacts are closed.

11. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the coil of said electro-mechanical device is directly powered from said line connection and said line neutral connection.

12. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said operating mechanism includes an operating handle;

and wherein said plunger directly contacts said operating handle when said coil is not energized to prevent movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof, said plunger being separated from said operating handle when said coil is energized to permit movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof.

4. A circuit breaker comprising:

a line connection;

a load connection;

separable contacts electrically connected between said line connection and said load connection;

a line neutral connection;

an operating mechanism adapted to open and close said separable contacts, said operating mechanism moving between and open position wherein said line connection is electrically disconnected from said load connection and a close position wherein said line connection is electrically connected to said load connection;

a trip circuit responsive to current flowing through said separable contacts and cooperating with said operating mechanism in response to predetermined current conditions to open said separable contacts, said trip circuit being powered from said line connection and said line neutral connection; and

an electro-mechanical device including a coil and a plunger, said coil being energized from said line connection and said line neutral connection, said plunger engaging said operating mechanism when said coil is not energized to prevent movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof, said plunger disengaging from said operating mechanism when said coil is energized to permit movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof,

wherein said operating mechanism includes an operating handle; and

wherein said plunger directly contacts said operating handle when said coil is not energized to prevent movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof, said plunger being separated from said operating handle when said coil is energized to permit movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof.

5. A circuit breaker comprising:

a line connection;

a load connection;

separable contacts electrically connected between said line connection and said load connection;

a line neutral connection;

an operating mechanism adapted to open and close said separable contacts, said operating mechanism moving between an open position wherein said line connection is electrically disconnected from said load connection and a closed position wherein said line connection is electrically connected to said load connection;

a trip circuit responsive to current flowing through said separable contacts and cooperating with said operating mechanism in response to predetermined current conditions to open said separable contacts, said trip circuit being powered from said line connection and said line neutral connection; and

an electro-mechanical device including a coil and a plunger, said coil being energized from said line connection and said line neutral connection, said plunger engaging said operating mechanism when said coil is not energized to prevent movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof, said plunger disengaging from said operating mechanism when said coil is energized to permit movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof,

wherein said operating mechanism includes an operating handle, wherein said plunger engages said operating handle when said coil is not energized to prevent movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof, said plunger disengaging from said operating handle when said coil is energized to permit movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof, wherein said operating handle includes an insertion barrier; and

wherein said plunger engages the insertion barrier of said operating handle when said coil is not energized to prevent movement of said operating mechanism from the open position to the closed position thereof.