Circuit breaker with integrated U-Link

Abstract

A circuit interrupter having a moveable contact arm that forms part of the linkage assembly that connects to the handle. The moveable contact arm positioned essentially vertically in the circuit interrupter housing and positioned such that any arc that develops is drawn in a direction away from the moveable contact arm. The moveable contact arm moveable about two pivot points when the contacts are opening and closing, one of the two pivots positioned in a curved channel to slidingly move in the channel during opening and closing.

Claims

1. A circuit interrupter having a housing within which components of the circuit interrupter are contained, the circuit interrupter comprising: a line terminal connectable to a source of electrical power; a load terminal connectable to a load; a stationary contact positioned on a first plate; a moveable contact arm having a first end and a second end, said moveable contact arm having a moveable contact positioned at the first end, said moveable contact configured to be moveable into and out of physical contact with said stationary contact by movement of said moveable contact arm; a catch coupled to the second end of said moveable contact arm, said moveable contact arm and said catch defining a longitudinal axis; a handle provided to rotate about a pivot and including an elongated portion coupled to said catch via a linkage pivot point, the elongated portion having a longitudinal axis; wherein when the contacts are in an open position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and catch is positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion; wherein when the contacts are in a closed position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and catch is substantially in line with or parallel with the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion; and a moveable contact pivot connected to the first end of said moveable contact arm and a channel within which the moveable contact pivot is positioned, wherein movement of said moveable contact arm between the open and closed position causes said moveable contact pivot to slide from one end of said channel to an opposite end of said channel.

2. The circuit interrupter of claim 1, wherein when the contacts are in the open position the angle is greater than 30 degrees.

3. The circuit interrupter of claim 2, wherein when the contacts are in the open position the angle is greater than 45 degrees.

4. The circuit interrupter of claim 1, wherein said moveable contact arm and said catch are rigidly affixed to each other.

5. The circuit interrupter of claim 1, wherein said first plate is deflectable such that when said moveable contact comes into physical contact with said stationary contact, said first plate deflects due to a closing force exerted on said first plate by said moveable contact arm.

6. The circuit interrupter of claim 1, further comprising an arc runner having an arc receiving surface for receiving an arc that develops between the contacts.

7. The circuit interrupter of claim 6, wherein said arc runner is configured as a U-shape.

8. The circuit interrupter of claim 6, wherein when the movable contact in open position, the arc receiving surface lays substantially in a plane with a surface on which said movable contact is positioned.

9. The circuit interrupter of claim 6, further comprising a vent positioned in said housing and located adjacent to said contacts for venting debris and gas caused by arcing.

10. The circuit interrupter of claim 9, wherein said first plate extends from said stationary contact and toward said vent and said arc receiving surface extends from said moveable contact and toward said vent, said first plate and said arc receiving surface working in conjunction with each other to receive an arc that develops between said contacts.

11. The circuit interrupter of claim 10, wherein a distance between the first plate and arc receiving surface is smallest at a position nearest said contacts and increases toward said vent.

12. The circuit interrupter of claim 9, further comprising at least one arc plate positioned adjacent to said vent for quenching the arc.

13. The circuit interrupter of claim 12, wherein said arc plate comprises a plurality of arc plates and said vent includes an arc plate opening at least corresponding to a cross sectional area for each arc plate and aligned with an end of each of the plurality of arc plates.

14. The circuit interrupter of claim 13, wherein said vent is formed as a single continuous vent with openings in the housing between each arc plate opening.

15. The circuit interrupter of claim 14, wherein the openings in the housing between each arc plate opening are smaller than each arc plate opening.

16. The circuit interrupter of claim 13, wherein said moveable contact arm follows a radial path of movement and said plurality of arch plates are positioned along the radial path of movement of said moveable contact.

17. The circuit interrupter of claim 9, further comprising a permanent magnet positioned adjacent to said stationary contact to urge the arc toward said first plate and said arc runner.

18. The circuit interrupter of claim 1, wherein said channel comprises a curved path within which said moveable contact pivot slides.

19. The circuit interrupter of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member to bias said moveable contact arm toward the open position.

20. The circuit interrupter of claim 19, wherein said biasing member engages with said moveable contact pivot to bias said moveable contact pivot toward one end of said channel.

21. The circuit interrupter of claim 1, further comprising a current measurement device connected in series with said line terminal and said load terminal.

22. The circuit interrupter of claim 1, further comprising a handle guard extending over top of said handle.

23. A circuit interrupter having a housing within which components of the circuit interrupter are contained, the circuit interrupter comprising: a line terminal connectable to a source of electrical power; a load terminal connectable to a load; a stationary contact positioned on a first plate; a moveable contact arm having a first end and a second end, said moveable contact arm having a moveable contact positioned at the first end, said moveable contact configured to be moveable into and out of physical contact with said stationary contact by movement of said moveable contact arm; a catch rigidly attached to the second end of said moveable contact arm, said moveable contact arm and said catch defining a longitudinal axis; a handle provided to rotate about a pivot and including an elongated portion coupled to said catch via a linkage pivot point, the elongated portion having a longitudinal axis; a moveable contact pivot connected to the first end of said moveable contact arm; and a channel comprising a curved path within which the moveable contact pivot is positioned; wherein movement of said moveable contact arm between the open and closed position causes said moveable contact pivot to slide from one end of said channel to an opposite end of said channel; wherein when the contacts are in an open position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and catch is positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion; and wherein when the contacts are in a closed position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and catch is substantially in line with or parallel with the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion.

24. The circuit interrupter of claim 23, wherein said first plate is deflectable such that when said moveable contact comes into physical contact with said stationary contact, said first plate deflects due to a closing force exerted on said first plate by said moveable contact arm.

25. A circuit interrupter having a housing within which components of the circuit interrupter are contained, the circuit interrupter comprising: a line terminal connectable to a source of electrical power; a load terminal connectable to a load; a stationary contact positioned on a first plate; a moveable contact arm having a first end and a second end, said moveable contact arm having a moveable contact positioned at the first end, said moveable contact configured to be moveable into and out of physical contact with said stationary contact by movement of said moveable contact arm; a catch coupled to the second end of said moveable contact arm, said moveable contact arm and said catch defining a longitudinal axis; a handle provided to rotate about a pivot and including an elongated portion coupled to said catch via a linkage pivot point, the elongated portion having a longitudinal axis; wherein said moveable contact arm and said catch together define a rigid member pivotable about a catch pivot point on one end and carrying said moveable contact on an opposite end such that said moveable contact is pivotable in an arc about the catch pivot point; wherein when the contacts are in an open position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and catch is positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion; and wherein when the contacts are in a closed position, the longitudinal axis defined by the moveable contact arm and catch is substantially in line with or parallel with the longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an illustration of one aspect of the circuit interrupter according to the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a view along Section line A-A according to FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a view of the contacts in the closed position according to FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 is a diagram of the angular relationship of the linkage and the handle in both the open and closed positions.

(5) FIG. 5 is a view of the contacts in an open position and the formation of an arc that is transferred to the arc runner according to FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the housing illustrating the vents according to FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 7 is an alternative positioning of the arc plates according to FIG. 1.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the stationary contact and the arc runner according to FIG. 1.

(9) FIG. 9 is an alternative terminal design according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views.

(11) FIG. 1 illustrates components of an example circuit interrupter 100 having a stationary and a moveable contact where a moveable contact arm is integrally formed as part of the linkage assembly according to aspects of the invention.

(12) Circuit interrupter 100 is provided with a housing 102 that contains the working elements of the device. The circuit interrupter is further provided with a set of contacts including a stationary contact 104 and movable contact 106. The moveable contact 106 is positioned on a moveable contact arm 108.

(13) The moveable contact arm 108 is coupled to catch 110, which is in turn, coupled to a handle 114 that includes an elongated portion 112. The moveable contact 106 is configured to move between an open and closed position relative to the stationary contact 104 by manual actuation of the handle 114.

(14) Reference to FIG. 1 shows the contacts 104, 106 in the open position where no electrical current flows therebetween; whereas FIG. 3 shows the contacts 104, 106 in a closed position.

(15) Handle 114 and elongated portion 112 for the handle assembly are rigidly rotated about the handle axis 116 as a unit. Likewise, catch 110 and moveable contact arm 108 are rigidly attached to each other and move as a unit. The handle assembly is connected to the catch 110 at a pivot 118.

(16) The moveable contact arm 108 further includes a moveable contact pivot 120 that engages with a channel 122. Moveable contact pivot 120 slides within channel 122. In FIG. 1, the moveable contact pivot 120 is positioned at one end of channel 122, however, moveable contact arm 108 rotates about moveable contact pivot 120 during closing of the contacts, the moveable contact pivot 120 slides within channel 122 to an opposite end of the channel as illustrated in FIG. 3.

(17) Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is biasing device 124, which in this configuration comprises a spring and is provided to bias the moveable contact pivot 120 toward one end of the channel 122. In the example provided in FIG. 1, the biasing device 124 functions to bias the contacts in the open position.

(18) Also shown in FIG. 1 is a line terminal 126, which is designed to be connected to a source of electrical power, such as a bus bar in a panel board or load center. Stationary contact 104 is mounted onto a first plate 128, which in turn is electrically connected to line terminal 126.

(19) Moveable contact 106 mounted on moveable contact arm 108 includes a connection 130 that electrically connects the moveable contact 106 to a current measurement device 132. Current measurement device 132 is likewise connected to a connector 134 that is electrically connected to a load terminal 136.

(20) In operation, electrical power is input into circuit interrupter 100 via line terminal 126, which passes through current measurement device 132. If the electrical current exceeds a threshold level, current measurement device 132 will function to trip the circuit interrupter 100 by opening the circuit (opening the contacts relative to each other by means of a trip mechanism 133) such that the flow of electrical current through the contacts ceases. In the event that the electrical current does not exceed the threshold level set by current measurement device 132, the electrical power is allowed to pass through load terminal 136, which in turn, provides electrical power to the connected circuit and/or equipment.

(21) In FIG. 1 it can be seen that catch 110 and moveable contact arm 108 are rigidly affixed to each other and define a longitudinal axis 140, while elongated portion 112 also defines a longitudinal axis 142 (both of which are better illustrated in FIG. 4) and shown in the open position and form an angle 144, which in one configuration is greater than 30 degrees and in another configuration is greater than 45 degrees.

(22) Alternatively, FIG. 4 shows longitudinal axis 140 and longitudinal axis 142, which corresponds to the contacts in the closed positions as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this instance, longitudinal axis 140 and longitudinal axis 142 are substantially coaxial or at least substantially parallel.

(23) At the bottom of FIG. 4 a deflection distance 146 is illustrated by the two arrows facing each other. Deflection distance 146 represents the deflection of stationary contact 104 mounted on first plate 128 as first plate 128 gives under the closing force exerted by moveable contact arm 108. In one configuration, first plate 128 is provided connected at one end to the line terminal 126 and is formed having surfaces in multiple planes (FIG. 1) or alternatively, as a plate having a surface in one plane (FIG. 3) or as shown in perspective view in FIG. 8.

(24) FIG. 2 is a section view along section line A-A of FIG. 1.

(25) Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is arc runner 150 formed as a U-shaped device (FIGS. 1 & 8), which includes arc receiving surface 152. Likewise, first plate 128 includes a surface 154 that extends downward (FIG. 1) from stationary contact 104 and functions to receive an arc 160 that forms in between the contacts and is better illustrated in FIG. 5. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the arc 160 forms between the contacts 104, 106 and is passed toward the arc receiving surface 152 and surface 154 and moves away from the contacts. An alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 9. It can be seen that alternative configurations can be used while not deviating from the invention.

(26) Also shown in FIG. 1 are arc plates 156, which are provided to assist in drawing arc 160 away from the contacts. In one configuration, arc plates 156 are positioned in a radial path that corresponds to the path of movement of the moveable contact 106.

(27) Additionally, vent 162 is positioned in the underside of the housing 102. Vent 162 is better illustrated in FIG. 6 where the underside of the housing 102 is shown. As can be seen, vent 162 is formed of a number of openings 164, which are positioned based on the positioning of the arc plates 156. In one configuration, the size of each opening 164 is at least as large as the cross sectional area of each arc plate 156. It can further be seen that in some configurations, the vent 162 is actually a single vent opening as each opening 164 is connected to an adjacent opening 164 via an opening 166. It can be seen that the openings 166 are typically smaller in size than the openings 164.

(28) FIG. 7 illustrates yet another embodiment where the housing 102 is provided with a rounded wall with openings 164 positioned therein that correspond to the positioning of the arc plates 156 along a radial path. It can also be seen that the arc plates are positioned and held in a recess 168 that is located in an inner side of the rounded wall.

(29) In reviewing the features of the invention, it can be seen that the novel placement of the moveable contact arm 108 in a vertical position (in FIG. 1) such that the moveable contact arm 108 forms part of the linkage assembly connecting to the handle, places the moveable contact arm away from any arc that may develop and will be drawn downward (away from the moveable contact arm). Additionally, this configuration functions to lessen the number of parts in the circuit interrupter, lowering the cost and the making the device lighter in weight and easier to assemble.

(30) Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.