With Contact Biasing, Holding Or Pressure Control Means Patents (Class 335/15)
  • Patent number: 5021819
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes an operating handle yoke that contacts the cradle operator and drives the operating mechanism springs over-center when the circuit breaker operating handle is moved from its RESET to its ON position. The contact between the handle yoke and cradle operator accelerates the over-centering of the powerful operating mechanism springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew M. Candelora, Kevin F. Nolan, Gary D. Magnon, Raymond K. Seymour
  • Patent number: 4804862
    Abstract: The switch includes a cantilevered switch arm including a power contact, first and second switch terminals with the power contact positioned therebetween, the cantilevered switch arm being yieldably biased with the power contact engaging the first switch terminal. A manually operated lever is provided for engaging and disengaging the switch arm and moving the power contact into engagement with the second switch terminal. A pivotable latch arm is provided for latching the switch arm with the power terminal engaging the second switch terminal. A solenoid is actuable in response to removal of power from the power contact for pivoting the latch arm and releasing the switch arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Steven F. Lachman
    Inventors: Gordon Bowman-Jones, James E. Warthan
  • Patent number: 4740770
    Abstract: A mechanism for a circuit breaker includes a support lever insulated from a contact arm and a trip lever supported by a plate fitted with limited swivelling on a pivot. A mechanical link arranged between a toggle-joint and the contact arm includes a latching stop fixed on the plate. The stop is formed by a notch cooperating with a step of the trip lever to push the end of a toggle rod back to a retracted unlatched positon, as soon as the trip lever is actuated to the tripped position. The support lever is equipped with a locking arm having a sloping part cooperating with a pawl of the handle to form a high-speed contact closing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Michel Lazareth, William Bartolo, Patrick Rousset, Gerard Hervouet
  • Patent number: 4645890
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes a movable upper electrical contact carried by a contact member having an end portion with an arcuate cam surface formed thereon for engaging an outwardly projecting cam surface of a leaf spring. The leaf spring is secured to and disposed around an enlarged portion of a rotatable cross-bar of the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The leaf spring has an outwardly protruding cam surface and is mechanically configured to provide sufficient biasing force to the end portion of the movable upper electrical contact member to enable the upper electrical contact member and upper contact to move in unison with the cross-bar during normal operation of the breaker. Upon the occurrence of a high level short circuit or fault current of sufficient magnitude, the upper electrical contact rotate member and upper and the arcuate cam surface thereof is moved against the then stationary cam surface of the leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Charles R. Paton, Charles E. Haugh
  • Patent number: 4645891
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes a movable upper electrical contact member having an end portion with an arcuate cam surface formed thereon for engaging an exposed spherical surface of a spring-loaded ball that is disposed in a pocket provided in a rotatable cross-bar of the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. A compression spring is also disposed in the pocket between the cross-bar and the ball to supply sufficient biasing force to the end portion of the movable upper electrical contact member to enable the upper electrical contact member to move in unison with the cross-bar during normal operation of the breaker. Upon the occurrence of a high level short circuit or fault current of sufficient magnitude, the upper electrical contact member rotates and the arcuate cam surface thereof moves against the exposed surface of the then stationary spring-loaded ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph F. Changle
  • Patent number: 4639700
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter with shock resistant mechanism characterized by a circuit breaker/contactor device in combination with an electromagnetic actuator which comprises a pair of opposed and facing solenoids having aligned armatures for actuating a linkage to open and close contacts of the circuit breaker contactor, and the linkage having a coupler link for movement between co-linear alignment with the armatures when the contacts are closed and for non-linearity when the contacts are open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Edward J. Shestak, David Marschik
  • Patent number: 4639612
    Abstract: An electromechanical switch can be remotely opened by the interruption of electrical power to the switch for a minimum period of time. The switch includes a power terminal, a first switch (off) terminal, and a second switch (on) terminal. A first spring contact is coupled to the power terminal and spring biased to the off switch terminal. A second spring contact is coupled to the on switch terminal and is configured to receive the first spring contact in yieldable engagement. A lever is coupled to the first spring contact for manually moving the first spring contact to engagement with the first spring terminal and with the second spring contact. A solenoid is actuated in response to the interruption of power from the switch and flexes the second spring contact for releasing the yieldable engagement of the first and second spring contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Endless Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Bowman-Jones
  • Patent number: 4608545
    Abstract: A movable contact arm assembly is provided for a circuit breaker. The contact assembly includes a carrier which has first and second guide plates with aligned roller guides and bracket supports and a roller which has a middle portion extending between the guide plates and the end portions and engaging the roller guides. A bracket extends between the guide plates and engages the bracket supports. A spring is positioned between the bracket and roller which urges the roller along the roller guide. The contact arm has first and second cam surfaces and is positioned between the guide plates and pivotally connected thereto. The roller rides in the guide on the first and second cam surfaces and the roller moves from the first cam surface to the second cam surface as the contact arm moves from a closed position to an open position in response to preselected electromagnetic repulsion forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Siemens-Allis, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Kralik
  • Patent number: 4551660
    Abstract: A switch device for controlling an electric motor which is used, for example, in a power window or sunroof of an automobile. The switch device includes a magnetically attractive piece, an electromagnet, sets of electrical switch contacts, and a spring coil of an alloy which, when heated to a predetermined temperature after being compressed, is restored to a released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4539538
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes a movable upper electrical contact having a base portion with a slot formed therein for releasably receiving a portion of an elongated spring biased locking pin disposed in a rotatable cross bar of an operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The locking pin is biased in the slot by a pair of tension springs secured to the cross bar, enabling the upper electrical contact to move in unison with the cross bar. Upon the occurrence of a high level short circuit or fault current of sufficient magnitude, the pin is displaced from the slot enabling the independent rotational movement of the upper contact arm. During such movement, an elongated leaf spring is downwardly deflected and then released by the base portion. Subsequently, the upper electrical contact is prevented from contacting the lower electrical contact by the engagement of the leaf spring with the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Robert H. Flick, Walter K. Huffman
  • Patent number: 4480242
    Abstract: A movable contact arm for circuit breakers allows the contact opening characteristics to be determined over an entire range of breaker ratings. The contact arm is provided with a camming surface with the contact closure spring arranged as a cam follower. Under short circuit conditions, the contact repulsion force is sufficient to overcome the bias provided by the contact closure spring and to drive the cam follower along the camming surface so that the resulting spring torque rapidly changes from a high initial torque on the contact arm to zero torque in a very short period of time. The contact arm is linked with the contact operating mechanism to open upon current overload in response to the trip mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roger N. Castonguay, Charles L. Jencks
  • Patent number: 4427957
    Abstract: A switch asembly includes first and second contact members which are operatively provided to take one of two positions, a break-position in which the first and second contact members are separated from each other, and a make-position in which the first and second contact members are electrically connected with each other. Magnetic members are provided operatively in association with the first and second contact members to define a closed magnetic loop with a current path extending through the loop, when the first and second contact members are turned to the make-position. The magnetic members attract each other by the magnetic flux through the closed loop to maintain the first and second contacts in the make-position when the current flowing through the current path is not zero. Thus, the first and second contact members are permitted to return to the break-position at a zero crossing point of a.c. current flowing through the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 4363010
    Abstract: A contact lever has a contact point on one end for a fixed contact element and is supported on its other end on a pin which, when the switch is tripped, is capable of moving along a path transversely to the longitudinal direction of the contact lever. A compression spring acts upon the contact lever between a stop for the contact lever, which is embodied by a housing element and the pin in order to generate the contact pressure to move the pin upon the tripping of a switch. The stop has two protrusions, oriented towards the contact lever, one of which is located farther from the pin and closer to the contact lever than the other. The contact lever, therefore, upon being tripped, pivots first about the protrusion, which is more remote from the pin being moved, and then about the protrusion disposed closer to the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: Weber AG Fabrik Elektrotechnischer Artikel und Apparate
    Inventor: Herbert Wirth
  • Patent number: 4310817
    Abstract: An automatic circuit breaker for an electrical storage battery is adapted to be mounted on a battery terminal post so that the battery post forms one contact of the circuit breaker. A latch mechanism holds a contact piston against the battery post to form the main contacts of the breaker, and a solenoid trip mechanism disengages the latch mechanism when energized by a condition responsive switch. An auxiliary switch is provided to be held open by the latch mechanism when the latch mechanism releases the contact piston to open the main contacts of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Inventor: Fred A. McNiel
  • Patent number: 4307467
    Abstract: A varactor controlled tuning system for a television receiver includes first, second and third separated resistive sections formed on a dielectric substrate, a movable contact and means for moving the movable contact along the resistive sections. First and second voltages corresponding to the magnitude of a tuning voltage for the lowest and highest frequency channels in a low VHF band are coupled to the beginning and end points, respectively, of the first section. Third and fourth voltages corresponding to the magnitudes of the tuning voltage for the lowest and highest frequency channels in a high VHF band are coupled to the beginning and end points, respectively, of the second section. Fifth and sixth voltages corresponding to the magnitudes of the tuning voltage for the lowest and highest frequency channel in a UHF band are coupled to beginning and end points, respectively, of the third section. The tuning voltage for the tuner is developed at the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. S. Bridgewater
  • Patent number: 4255636
    Abstract: A circuit breaker including first and second spaced-apart stationary contacts and a movable contact operable between open and closed positions with respect to the stationary contact wherein the movable contact, when in the closed position, conducts electricity between the stationary contacts and wherein the movable contact, when in the open position, is spaced apart from one of the stationary contacts. The movable contact has a longitudinal slot extending from one end thereof, and the movable contact is pivotally engaged to one of the stationary contacts at the movable contact end wherein the slot is located. The first stationary contact has an end portion thereof which is disposed within the movable contact slot. Also included is a mechanism for effecting movement of the movable contact between the open and closed positions and magnetic repulsion members for increasing the contact pressure between the stationary and movable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1981
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: John A. Wafer, Paul P. Koren, Thomas N. Meyer
  • Patent number: 4105879
    Abstract: In a magnetic puffer type gas circuit breaker including an electromagnetic coil through which a current to be interrupted flows during the breaking operation, and an electromagnetic repulsive member which produces an electromagnetic repulsive force in cooperation with the electromagnetic coil and drives movable parts of a breaking portion of the apparatus, the electromagnetic repulsive member is so arranged that the electromagnetic neutral position of the electromagnetic repulsive member within the electromagnetic coil at the time when the breaking portion has been closed deviates on the closing side with respect to the electromagnetic center of the electromagnetic coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Tsukushi, Katsuichi Kashimura, Kunio Hirasawa, Yoshio Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 4030053
    Abstract: An oil filled distribution transformer having a secondary circuit breaker utilizing a cantilevered stationary contact which is engaged by a movable contact for completing a series circuit therethrough. The cantilevered exposed stationary contact, which is surrounded by insulating oil, allows the oil in the transformer to rapidly return to the contact area after circuit interruption providing for faster arc extinction. The movable contact can be a bridging contact which forms a circuit between the cantilevered stationary contact and a second stationary contact mounted above a support base. The movable bridging contact is spring biased toward an open position separated from the stationary contact, but with the circuit breaker in the normally closed position is held in engagement with the stationary contact by a latching mechanism which is responsive to a bimetal or magnetic trip to allow the circuit breaker to trip open during overload conditions. The front cantilevered contact is completely surrounded by oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Cotton, Jack G. Hanks, Raymond E. Wien
  • Patent number: 4006439
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter particularly suitable for use in an oil filled distribution transformer having an elongated contact arm pivotable about one end with a movable contact attached to the other end through suitable insulating members to electrically isolate the movable contact from the elongated contact arm. The movable contact is a bridging contact for completing a series circuit through two stationary contacts. The movable bridging contact is spring biased away from the elongated contact arm. A retainer restricts the movement of the bridging contact away from the insulating members attached to the elongated contact arm. The biasing spring is disposed between the insulating members and the retainer. Grooves formed in the sides of the insulating members restrict rotational movement of the retainer and bridging contact. For larger circuit interrupters, a bridging contact assembly can be utilized having a plurality of parallel bridging contacts and a plurality of biasing springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1977
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond E. Wien, Eugene H. Seidling, Nicholas A. Tomasic
  • Patent number: 3984736
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly of protective device and more particularly to an assembly of a leakage detective device with a no-fuse breaker, and an actuating mechanism, using the no-fuse breaker as the interrupter of the leakage protective device to interrupt the malfunction circuit of leakage current by virtue of its large interrupting capacity to maintain the electrical safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Inventor: Thin Fay Rai