Breaker assembly with mating platform and well connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9876334-B2
Application number	US-201415106511-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Jan 3, 2014
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

A breaker assembly is disclosed comprising a breaker board having a bus bar including a first engagement feature and a breaker module having a line side connector including a second engagement feature engaging the first engagement feature to inhibit separation of the breaker module from the breaker board. The breaker board can further include a board mount having a first alignment feature, and the breaker module can further include a module mount engaging the board mount and having a second alignment feature engaging the first alignment feature. In another aspect of the invention, the breaker board includes board connections, the breaker module includes breaker connections (e.g., blind mate connections), and the board connections are engaged with the breaker connections. In another aspect of the invention, the breaker module includes a ledge that defines an undercut to facilitate prying of the breaker module from the breaker board.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A breaker assembly comprising:
a breaker board having:
a bus bar including a first engagement feature,
a board mount spaced from the bus bar,
a back surface between the bus bar and the board mount,
a well recessed into the back surface between the bus bar and the board mount, and
board connections positioned in the well between the bus bar and the board mount; and

a breaker module having:
a breaker housing defining a bottom surface,
a line side connector including a second engagement feature engaging the first engagement feature to inhibit separation of the breaker module from the breaker board,
a module mount adapted to engage the board mount,
a platform protruding from the bottom surface between the line side connector and the module mount, and
breaker connections recessed into the platform positioned between the line side connector and the module mount and adapted to be engaged with the board connections,

wherein the platform is dimensioned to mate into the well to facilitate coupling of the breaker connections to the board connections.

2. The breaker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement feature comprises a recess in the bus bar.

3. The breaker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second engagement feature comprises a protrusion on the line sided connector.

4. The breaker assembly of claim 1 , wherein the board mount comprises a mounting rail spaced from the bus bar, and wherein the module mount comprises a pivot mount pivotally engaging the mounting rail.

5. The breaker assembly of claim 4 , wherein the pivot mount includes a first alignment feature and the mounting rail includes a second alignment feature engaging the first alignment feature.

6. The breaker assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first alignment feature comprises an alignment recess and the second alignment feature comprises an alignment web positioned in the alignment recess.

7. The breaker assembly of claim 4 , wherein the line side connector is adjacent a first end of the breaker module and the pivot mount is adjacent a second opposing end of the breaker module, and wherein the breaker module further comprises a ledge positioned adjacent the first end.

8. The breaker assembly of claim 7 , wherein the ledge is adjacent a front side of the breaker module.

9. The breaker assembly of claim 7 , wherein the ledge defines an undercut that facilitates prying of the breaker module from the breaker board.

10. A breaker assembly comprising:
a breaker board having a bus bar, a board mount spaced from the bus bar, a back surface between the bus bar and the board mount, a well recessed into the back surface between the bus bar and the board mount, and board connections positioned in the well; and
a breaker module having a breaker housing defining a bottom surface, a line side connector adapted to engage the bus bar, a module mount adapted to engage the board mount, a platform protruding from the bottom surface between the line side connector and the module mount, and breaker connections recessed into the platform and adapted to be engaged with the board connections, wherein the platform is dimensioned to mate into the well to facilitate coupling of the breaker connections to the board connections.

11. The breaker assembly of claim 10 , wherein the line side connector is adjacent a first end of the breaker module and the module mount is adjacent a second opposing end of the breaker module, and wherein the breaker module further comprises a ledge positioned adjacent the first end.

12. The breaker assembly of claim 11 , wherein the ledge is adjacent a front side of the breaker module.

13. The breaker assembly of claim 11 , wherein the ledge defines an undercut that facilitates prying of the breaker module from the breaker board.

14. The breaker assembly of claim 10 , wherein the breaker board further includes a stanchion positioned in the well, wherein the platform includes a recess dimensioned to receive the stanchion.

15. The breaker assembly of claim 10 , wherein the well includes a first sloped wall and wherein the platform includes a second sloped wall adapted to mate with the first sloped wall.

Assignees

• Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

Inventors

• Burke Kevin
• Thurk John
• Udelhofen John

Classifications

• H02B1/052

  Mounting on rails · CPC title

• H02B1/205 Primary

  for connecting electrical apparatus mounted side by side on a rail · CPC title

• H02B1/056

  Mounting on plugboards · CPC title

• H01R9/2608

  Fastening means for mounting on support rail or strip (H01R9/2691 takes precedence; for switch or other electrical device H02B1/042) · CPC title

• H01H71/0264

  Mountings or coverplates for complete assembled circuit breakers, e.g. snap mounting in panel · CPC title