Circuit breaker

Details Circuit breaker Circuit breaker

2002-01-02

2003-05-27

Vortman, Anatoly (Department: 2835)

Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches

Electrothermally actuated switches

With bimetallic elements

C337S376000, C337S059000, C116S279000, C116S307000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06570480

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit breaker and, more particularly, to a circuit breaker which has a prolonged life.
2. Description of Related Art
Many circuit breakers are known.
FIG. 4
shows one which includes a shell (
40
) having an open top and a closed bottom, with a hollow button (
50
) pivotally connected to the shell (
40
) at the open top, and a first blade (
41
), a second blade (
42
) and a grounding prong (
43
) extending out of the shell (
40
) through the closed bottom.
The first blade (
41
) has an inner end formed with a first contact (
411
), and the second blade (
42
) has an inner end pivotally connected to a curved metal piece (
60
) which is formed with a second contact (
61
) of platinum. A helical spring (
54
) is compressed between the hollow button (
50
) and the curved metal piece (
60
).
Furthermore, the hollow button (
50
) receives an indicator light (
51
) having a first terminal (
52
) and a second terminal (
53
). The first terminal (
52
) is electrically connected with the helical spring (
54
), while the second one (
53
) is engagable with the ground prong (
43
).
Normally, the blades (
41
,
42
) are connected to each other by the curved metal piece (
60
), and the indicator light (
51
) is lit up by an electric current through the spring (
54
), the indicator light (
51
), the terminals (
52
,
53
) and the grounding prong (
43
).
In this conventional circuit breaker, however, a problem arises that the terminal (
52
) and the grounding prong (
43
) are engaged with each other in a way of point contact, which means a very small contact area between these engaged parts (
52
,
43
).
The small contact area leads to a high contact resistance, which usually brings about electric sparks and oxidation about the point of contact, and so the circuit breaker has a relatively short life.
Therefore, it is an objective of the invention to provide a circuit breaker to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker which has a prolonged life.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


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patent: 5012495 (1991-04-01), Munroe et al.
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patent: 5694106 (1997-12-01), Wang
patent: 5760672 (1998-06-01), Wang
patent: 5889457 (1999-03-01), Hsu et al.
patent: 6252490 (2001-06-01), Lin
patent: 6275134 (2001-08-01), Chen
patent: 6448880 (2002-09-01), Yu
patent: 2177543 (1987-01-01), None

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