Control mechanism for a circuit-breaking device and a circuit-breaking device comprising said mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9524843-B2
Application number	US-201414525805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2014
Priority date	Jan 8, 2009
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control mechanism for the displacement of at least one moving contact of a low-voltage circuit-breaking device. The control mechanism comprises elastic means operatively connectable to the moving contact, at least a first element of which is operatively connected to a second element by means of pin-shaped connection means. The first and second elements each comprise a pair of facing lateral portions that are connected by a transverse portion. The pin-shaped connection means comprise a pair of pin-shaped ends, each of which emerges from one side of a lateral portion of the first element. Said pin-shaped means also comprise a pair of seats, each of which is defined on a lateral portion of the second element. Each pin-shaped end is inserted in a corresponding seat so as to configure an axis of mutual rotation between the first and the second elements. The elastic means are arranged so as to exert a retaining force on the pin-shaped ends sufficient to keep them coupled to the corresponding seats in which they are inserted.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A circuit breaker control configured to control contact between a fixed contact and moveable contact arm moveable between an open position and a dosed position, comprising:
first, second, third and fourth elements, each having first and second lateral side walls and a transverse portion connecting the first and second side walls, the first element being in a fixed position relative to the circuit breaker;
the first and the second elements, the second and the third elements, and the third and the fourth elements, are each rotatably connected by a pin and groove configuration;
the fourth element being connected to the moveable contact arm;
a manual switch lover rotatably mounted to the first element, the lever having at least a closed position, an open position and a tripped position;
at least one spring connecting the switch element to the fourth element such that force from the spring keeps the first, second, third and fourth components connected;
wherein when the switch lever is moved from the closed position to the open position, the second element remains in a fixed position while the third and fourth elements rotate under force from the spring to pull the moveable contact arm from the closed position to the open position.

2. The circuit breaker control of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the grooves has at least one nub to form a snap-fit connection with a corresponding one of the pins.

3. The circuit breaker control of claim 1 , wherein a connection between the second and third elements defines an axis of rotation, the closed position of the switch lever is above the axis of rotation, and the open position of the switch lover is below the axis of rotation.

4. The circuit breaker control of claim 1 , wherein the third element nests within the second element, and the second element nests within the first element.

5. The circuit breaker control of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft, indirectly connecting to the fourth element, configured to rotate in response to a protection event.

6. The circuit breaker control of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fifth element with an engaging portion, rotatably mounted on the switch lever, having (a) an operating position in which the engaging portion engages and locks the second element in place and (b) a tripped position in which the engaging portion disengages the second element;
wherein when the fifth element moves from the operating position to the tripped position, the second, third and fourth elements rotate under force from the at least one spring to pull the moveable contact arm from the closed position to the open position.

7. The circuit breaker control of claim 6 , further comprising a shaft configured to rotate in response to a protection event.

8. The circuit breaker control of claim 7 , further comprising at least one spring connecting the fifth element to the shaft, wherein rotation of the shaft moves the fifth element between the operating position and the tripped position.

9. The circuit breaker control of claim 1 , the first element having a groove that engages with an outwardly facing pin of the second element.

10. The circuit breaker control of claim 1 , the third element having a groove that engages with an inwardly facing pin of the second element.

11. The circuit breaker control of claim 1 , the third element having a groove that engages with an outwardly facing pin of the third element.

12. The circuit breaker control of claim 1 , wherein:
a connection between the first and second elements defines a fixed axis of rotation;
connections between the second and the third elements, and the third and the fourth elements, each defines a moveable axis of rotation.

13. A circuit breaker control configured to control contact between a fixed contact and moveable contact arm moveable between an open position and a closed position, comprising:
first, second, third and fourth elements, each having first and second lateral side walls and a transverse portion connecting the first and second side walls, the first element being in a fixed position relative to the circuit breaker;
the first and the second elements, the second and the third elements, and the third and the fourth elements, are each rotatably connected by a pin and groove configuration;
the fourth element being connected to the moveable contact arm;
a fifth element with an engaging portion, rotatably mounted on the switch lever, having (a) an operating position in which the engaging portion engages and locks the second element place and (b) a tripped position in which the engaging portion disengages the second element;
a manual switch lever rotatably mounted to the first element, the lever having at least a closed position and an open position;
at least one spring connecting the switch element to the fourth element such that force from the spring keeps the first, second, third and fourth components connected;
wherein when the switch lever moves from the closed position to the open position, the second element remains in a fixed position white the third and fourth elements rotate under force from the spring to pull the moveable contact arm from the closed position to the open position;
wherein when the fifth element moves from the operating position to the tripped position, the second, third and fourth elements rotate under force from the at least one spring to pull the moveable contact arm from the closed position to the open position.

14. The circuit breaker control of claim 13 , the first element having a groove that engages with an outwardly facing pin of the second element.

15. The circuit breaker control of claim 13 , the third element having a groove that engages with an inwardly facing pin of the second element.

16. The circuit breaker control of claim 13 , the third element having a groove that engages with an outwardly facing pin of the third element.

17. The circuit breaker control of claim 13 , wherein:
a connection between the first and second elements defines a fixed axis of rotation;
connections between the second and the third elements, and the third and the fourth elements, each defines a moveable axis of rotation.

18. The circuit breaker control of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the grooves has at least one nub to form a snap-fit connection with a corresponding one of the pins.

19. The circuit breaker control of claim 13 , wherein a connection between the second and third elements defines an axis of rotation, the closed position of the switch lever is above the axis of rotation, and the open position of the switch lever is below the axis of rotation.

20. The circuit breaker control of claim 13 , wherein the third element nests within the second element, and the second element nests within the first element.

Assignees

• Abb Spa

Inventors

• Bonetti Luigi
• Ferrari Michele

Classifications

• H01H71/525 Primary

  comprising a toggle between cradle and contact arm and mechanism spring acting between handle and toggle knee · CPC title

• H01H1/225

  the supporting member being pivotable · CPC title

• H01H3/46

  using rod or lever linkage, e.g. toggle · CPC title

• H01H2071/1036

  having provisions for four or more poles · CPC title