Circuit breaker with remote control and disconnection function

• US 5,477,016 A
• Filed: 02/03/1994
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merlin Gerin
• Original Assignee: Merlin Gerin
• Inventors: Faure, Michel, Nebon, Jean-Pierre, Baginski, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/191,126
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 200/43.11, 200/43.14, 200/43.15, 200/43.01, 200/43.16, 200/308, 200/318, 200/318.1, 200/323, 200/324, 200/325, 200/327, 200/400, 200/328, 200/330, 200/331 , 200/332, 200/332.1
• US Class Current: 200/43.11
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/2041 Rotating bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/288 Provisions relating to welded contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/665 the reset mechanism operating directly on the normal manual operator, e.g. electromagnet pushes manual release lever back into "ON" position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/04 Means for indicating condition of the switching device by means of an auxiliary contact H01H71/46
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/501 Means for breaking welded contacts; Indicating contact welding or other malfunction of the circuit breaker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/70 actuated by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/282 and a separate part mounted or mountable on the switch assembly and movable between an unlocking position and a locking position where it can be secured by the padlock

Abstract

A circuit breaker equipped with an add-on remote control unit comprises a mechanical transmission link independent from the main mechanism, to transmit the position of the movable contact to an indicator, which automatically unlocks a latch in the open position to enable padlocking of a rack. The mechanical link is in two parts, composed of a push-rod associated with an operating lever on which the indicator is arranged, and a link rod articulated on the switching bar.

Claims

1. A remote controlled circuit breaker, comprising:

a multipole circuit breaker unit including an insulating case, each pole of the multipole circuit breaker unit being housed in the insulating case and including a system of separable contacts which is driven by a rotatable switching bar between open and closed positions; and

a remote control unit for fitting onto the multipole circuit breaker unit, said remote control unit including;

lockout means for locking the system of separable contacts in an open position, said lockout means comprising an extractable rack;

an operating lever including a transmission finger and a latching part, said latching part being adapted to latch said extractable latch of the lockout means to prevent extraction of the latch;

display means for displaying open or closed positions of said system of separable contacts, said display means being provided on said operating lever; and

a mechanical transmission link which connects the operating lever to the switching bar, said mechanical transmission link comprising a link rod which is articulated on the switching bar, and a push rod which connects the link red to the transmission finger of the operating lever, whereby the operating lever is driven via rotation of the switching bar.

2. The remote controlled circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein the extractable rack includes a retaining pin which is received by the latching part, and an orifice for fitting a padlock device therethrough when the retaining pin is unlatched from the latching part of the operating lever.

3. The remote controlled circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein the operating lever is pivotally mounted on a spindle, said transmission finger being provided at a first end of the operating lever, the display means comprises an indicator which is secured to a second end of the operating lever opposite the first end, and the latching part is provided between the spindle and the indicator.

4. The remote controlled circuit breaker of claims 1, wherein said push rod is slidable between first and second positions corresponding respectively to closed and open positions of the system of separable contacts, and the remote control unit further comprises a spring for biasing the push rod toward said second position.

5. The remote controlled circuit breaker of claim 4, wherein a portion of the link rod is slidable in an orifice formed in the insulating case.

6. The remote controlled circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein the link rod is articulated on the switching bar at a position eccentric to a rotational axis of the switching bar.