Two piece handle for miniature circuit breakers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9865415-B2
Application number	US-201315101954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2013
Priority date	Dec 27, 2013
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A miniature circuit breaker 10 having a handle assembly 100 formed of two separate pieces, namely a handle section 110 and a link section 150 with a first end 152 and a second end 154 . The link section 150 is pivotally connected at the first end 152 to the handle section 110 , and at the second end 154 to a movable blade 30 carrying the movable contact 32 of the circuit breaker. The handle section 110 can be formed of a plastic, and the link section 150 can be formed of a metallic material. A metallic link section can be thinner than an equivalent plastic part, and can provide a robust metal-to-metal interface with the blade 30 carrying the movable contact 32 . The handle assembly 100 can also have one or more clearance gaps 132 and 134 designed between the handle section 110 and link section 150 to provide for a range of independent motion by the handle section 110 in relation to the link section 150.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A circuit breaker, comprising:
a stationary contact;
a movable blade having a movable contact;
a two-piece handle assembly connected to the movable blade, the handle assembly being operable in a first direction to engage the movable contact to the stationary contact in a closed position and operable in a second direction to disengage the movable contact from the stationary contact in an open position, the handle assembly including:
a handle section operable by a user, and
a separate link section with a first end and a second end, the link section being pivotally connected to the handle section at the first end and pivotally connected to the movable blade at the second end; and

a trip lever connected to the movable blade across a tension spring, the trip lever configured to disengage the movable contact from the stationary contact in response to a trip condition.

2. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the link section is pivotally connected to the blade via a mechanical fastener.

3. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the link section is pivotally connected to the handle section via a mechanical fastener.

4. The circuit breaker of claim 3 , wherein the mechanical fastener is anchored to a case of the circuit breaker.

5. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the handle section has a greater pivotal range of motion than the link section.

6. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the handle section includes a recessed portion for receiving the first end of the link section and providing a clearance gap between the handle section and the first end of the link when pivotally engaged together, the clearance gap defining an independent range of pivotal motion for the handle section in relation to the link section.

7. The circuit breaker of claim 6 , wherein the clearance gap between the handle section and the link section isolates transference of push and twist forces from the handle section to the link section.

8. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the handle section is formed of a non-metallic material.

9. The circuit breaker of claim 8 , wherein the handle section is formed of thermoplastic.

10. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the link section is formed of a metallic material.

11. The circuit breaker of claim 10 , wherein the link section is formed of a ferromagnetic material.

12. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein a compliant material is situated between portions of the handle section and the link section.

13. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein one side of the link section is adjacent to a portion of the trip lever and a portion of the tension coil in the closed position.

14. The circuit breaker of claim 13 , wherein the tension spring is fully coiled along a length of the tension spring between its connections to the trip lever and the movable blade.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Usa Inc

Inventors

• Mittelstadt Chad R

Classifications

• H01H71/0207

  Mounting or assembling the different parts of the circuit breaker · CPC title

• H01H71/521 Primary

  Details concerning the lever handle · CPC title

• H01H21/22 Primary

  Operating parts, e.g. handle · CPC title

• H01H71/524

  the contact arm being pivoted on handle and mechanism spring acting between cradle and contact arm · CPC title