Electricity: magnetically operated switches – magnets – and electr – Electromagnetically actuated switches – With housing or support means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-30
2001-02-13
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)
Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr
Electromagnetically actuated switches
With housing or support means
C335S172000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188302
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The subject matter of this invention is related generally to molded case circuit breakers and more specifically to circuit breakers having accessory pockets with interfacing levers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Molded case circuit breakers and interrupters are well known in the art as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,408 issued Mar. 5, 1985, to Mrenna et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,760 issued Jun. 8, 1999 to Malingowski et al., each of which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference.
It is well known to provide circuit interrupters with accessory pockets accessible from the front casing thereof. It is also known to have levers and the like interfacing between micro-switches in the accessory case. The accessory case is inserted into the pocket and accesses the circuit interrupter operating mechanism through a convenient hole or opening in an inside wall of the circuit interrupter. Unfortunately, in some cases the amount of lever travel imposed by a circuit interrupter operating mechanism is more than the lever can accommodate. It would be advantageous therefore, if a way could be found to allow the full length of the travel of the operating mechanism and yet not exert excessive force on the intervening lever due to the limit in the amount of rotational movement it can accommodate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A circuit interrupter is taught which includes a housing with a pocket for an auxiliary device. An operating mechanism is disposed within the housing. The operating mechanism has a cradle, a portion of which attains a predetermined position in the housing upon the occurrence such as trip operation of a circuit interrupter status-such as contacts opened. The cradle is accessible through an opening in the housing at the pocket. Separable contacts are disposed within the housing in cooperation with the cradle for being opened by the operating mechanism. An auxiliary device-such as a bell alarm, is disposed in the pocket and has a reaction member for reacting to the occurrence of the circuit interrupter status. A multi member lever is disposed in the auxiliary device for interlinking the cradle with the reaction member by way of the opening in the housing. The multi member lever includes a first member or arm disposed in and rotationally supported in the pocket for being rotated through a predetermined first angle for actuating the reaction member, and an axial hub protruding from the first member. A second member is rotationally dispose on the hub and protrudes into the opening to the cradle for being rotated through a predetermined second angle for actuating the first member for actuating the reaction member. A spring is disposed upon the hub and is loaded between the first and second members for causing the first and second members to rotate generally in unison through the first angle, but allowing only the second member to continue to rotate relative to a generally stationary first member through the remainder of the second angle to thus accommodate cradle overtravel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4939490 (1990-07-01), Bernier et al.
patent: 5107236 (1992-04-01), Lesslie et al.
patent: 5581219 (1996-12-01), Nozawa et al.
patent: 5894259 (1999-04-01), Kolberg et al.
Donovan Lincoln
Eaton Corporation
Kosinski Charles E.
Nguy{tilde over (e)}n Tuy{tilde over (e)}n T.
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