Connector assemblies for panel board neutral bars and circuit breakers including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9824839-B2
Application number	US-201514801887-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2015
Priority date	Apr 22, 2015
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A circuit breaker neutral connector assembly is provided. Circuit breaker neutral connector assembly includes a neutral connector including a first side configured to make electrical connection with a neutral bar, a shield of an insulating material abutting a second side of the neutral connector opposite the first side, and a bias spring abutting the shield and configured to bias the neutral connector relative to a circuit breaker housing. Electronic circuit breakers including a circuit breaker neutral connector assembly and methods of making neutral connections are provided, as are other aspects.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Circuit breaker neutral connector assembly, comprising:
a neutral connector including a first side configured to make an electrical connection with a neutral bar on a top of the neutral bar;
a shield of an insulating material having a connector side abutting a second side of the neutral connector opposite the first side; and
a bias spring abutting a spring side of the shield opposite the connector side and configured to bias the neutral connector.

2. The circuit breaker neutral connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the neutral connector comprises a first prong and a second prong, each of the first prong and the second prong being spaced from the first side to form a gap configured to receive the neutral bar therein.

3. The circuit breaker neutral connector assembly of claim 1 , comprising a neutral conductor wire fastened to the neutral connector.

4. The circuit breaker neutral connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the neutral connector comprises a first upright and a second upright, wherein the first upright and the second upright extend alongside of the shield.

5. The circuit breaker neutral connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bias spring is received in a recess or on a post of the shield.

6. The circuit breaker neutral connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the neutral connector comprises a first extension stop coupled to a first end and a second extension stop coupled to a second end.

7. The circuit breaker neutral connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shield comprises an alignment feature configured to engage and align the neutral connector to the shield.

8. The circuit breaker neutral connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shield includes a groove that receives the neutral connector therein.

9. The circuit breaker neutral connector assembly of claim 1 , comprising a first extension stop of the neutral connector configured to engage with a first limit stop.

10. The circuit breaker neutral connector assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first limit stop is included in a housing of a circuit breaker.

11. The circuit breaker neutral connector assembly of claim 9 , comprising a second extension stop of the neutral connector configured to engage with a second limit stop.

12. A circuit breaker, comprising:
a housing including a pocket; and
a neutral connector assembly at least partially received in the pocket, the neutral connector assembly comprising:
a neutral connector including a first side configured to make an electrical connection with a neutral bar on a top of the neutral bar,
a shield of an insulating material having a connector side abutting a second side of the neutral connector opposite the first side, and
a bias spring abutting a spring side of the shield opposite the connector side and abutting the pocket and configured to bias the neutral connector against limit stops.

13. The circuit breaker of claim 12 , wherein the neutral connector comprises a first prong and a second prong, wherein each of the first prong and the second prong are spaced from the first side to form a gap configured to receive the neutral bar therein.

14. The circuit breaker of claim 12 , comprising a neutral conductor wire fastened to the neutral connector.

15. The circuit breaker of claim 12 , wherein the bias spring is received in a recess or on a post of the shield.

16. The circuit breaker of claim 12 , wherein the neutral connector comprises a first extension stop coupled to a first end, and a second extension stop coupled to a second end.

17. The circuit breaker of claim 12 , comprising a first extension stop of the neutral connector configured to engage with a first limit stop.

18. The circuit breaker of claim 17 , wherein the first limit stop is included in the housing.

19. The circuit breaker of claim 17 , comprising a second extension stop of the neutral connector is configured to engage with a second limit stop.

20. A method of making a neutral connection, comprising:
providing a housing including a pocket, and a circuit breaker neutral connector assembly at least partially received in the pocket, the circuit breaker neutral connector assembly comprising a neutral connector including a first side configured to make an electrical connection with a neutral bar on a top of the neutral bar, a shield of an insulating material having a connector side abutting a second side of the neutral connector opposite the first side, and a bias spring abutting a spring side of the shield opposite the connector side and abutting the pocket and configured to bias the neutral connector against one or more limit stops; and
connecting the neutral connector to the top of the neutral bar wherein during the connecting, the neutral connector floats in the pocket.

Assignees

• Siemens Industry Inc

Inventors

• Watford Russell Thomas

Classifications

• H01H71/025 Primary

  Constructional details of housings or casings not concerning the mounting or assembly of the different internal parts · CPC title

• H01R4/4863

  Coil spring · CPC title

• H01H71/002

  with provision for switching the neutral conductor · CPC title

• H01H71/08

  Terminals; Connections · CPC title