Tool and Calibration Machine for Calibrating a Thermal Trip Apparatus of a Circuit Interrupter, and Improved Method
First Claim
1. A method of employing a tool in calibrating a thermal trip apparatus of a circuit interrupter, the thermal trip apparatus comprising a thermal trip element and a support upon which the thermal trip element is disposed, the tool having an elongated shank and having at least a first engagement element extending from the shank in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the shank, the method comprising:
- detecting a thermal calibration setting of the thermal trip apparatus;
engaging the thermal trip apparatus with the tool;
deforming the support by applying one of a compressive force and a tensile force to the shank when the thermal calibration setting is higher than a target thermal calibration setting; and
deforming the support by applying the other of a compressive force and a tensile force to the shank when the thermal calibration setting is lower than the target thermal calibration setting.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved calibration machine for calibrating a thermal trip apparatus of a circuit interrupter employs a tool having an elongated shank and a pair of engagement elements. The engagement elements are engageable with a support that carried a bimetal element. The engagement elements can deform the support in opposite directions to either increase or decrease the thermal trip setting of the thermal trip apparatus. If the support is over-deformed in one direction, it can be deformed in an opposite direction to enable a circuit interrupter whose thermal trip apparatus has been deformed beyond a desired target thermal calibration setting to be deformed in an opposite direction to reach the desired target thermal calibration setting.
9 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of employing a tool in calibrating a thermal trip apparatus of a circuit interrupter, the thermal trip apparatus comprising a thermal trip element and a support upon which the thermal trip element is disposed, the tool having an elongated shank and having at least a first engagement element extending from the shank in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the shank, the method comprising:
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detecting a thermal calibration setting of the thermal trip apparatus; engaging the thermal trip apparatus with the tool; deforming the support by applying one of a compressive force and a tensile force to the shank when the thermal calibration setting is higher than a target thermal calibration setting; and deforming the support by applying the other of a compressive force and a tensile force to the shank when the thermal calibration setting is lower than the target thermal calibration setting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A calibration machine structured to calibrate a thermal trip apparatus of a circuit interrupter, the thermal trip apparatus comprising a thermal trip element and a support upon which the thermal trip element is disposed, the calibration machine comprising:
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a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory; an input apparatus connected with the processor apparatus and comprising at least a first sensor structured to detect a thermal calibration setting of the thermal trip apparatus; an output apparatus connected with the processor apparatus and comprising an actuator and a tool, the actuator being connected with the processor apparatus and with the tool, the tool having an elongated shank and having at least a first engagement element extending from the shank in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the shank; the memory having stored therein a number of routines which, when executed on the processor, cause the calibration machine to perform operations comprising; detecting a thermal calibration setting of the thermal trip apparatus; engaging the thermal trip apparatus with the tool; deforming the support by applying one of a compressive force and a tensile force to the shank when the thermal calibration setting is higher than a target thermal calibration setting; and deforming the support by applying the other of a compressive force and a tensile force to the shank when the thermal calibration setting is lower than the target thermal calibration setting. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification