Electricity: magnetically operated switches – magnets – and electr – Electromagnetically actuated switches – With motor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-30
2001-02-27
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)
Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr
Electromagnetically actuated switches
With motor
C335S073000, C200S329000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06194983
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 handle mechanisms for molded case circuit breakers.
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.
Separately attachable handles for circuit breakers are known. In most cases these are devices which are disposed on the front of a molded case circuit breaker and convert the rotary or pivotal motion of a rotary to the linear or translational motion of the typical circuit breaker linear action handle. The rotary handle is mounted parallel with the plane of the faceplate of the molded case circuit breaker, but spaced outwardly from it by the dept of the handle mechanism. Usually a series of linkages or gears are utilized to interconnect the rotary motion of the rotary handle to the linear motion of the circuit breaker handle. There are a number of disadvantages associated with the previous rotary handle mechanism. One disadvantage lies in the fact that for very small circuit breakers, the mechanical advantage of the rotary handle is reduced by the necessary small length of the lever arm of the handle. Also, it is common for electricians to lock the circuit breaker handle in place on the circuit breaker handle mechanism front cover, when performing service work, to be assured that the circuit breaker contacts are open so that the safety of the electrician is also assured. In order to do this, the handle has to be large enough to accommodate as many as three lock hasps in the eventuality that three electricians may be working downstream of the circuit breaker in question. It is also desirable to provide an indication of the status of the circuit breaker in a most elementary way, so that an observer can tell whether the circuit breaker is conducting electrical current or blocking electrical current.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention there is provided a circuit interrupter having a housing. There is an operating mechanism disposed within the housing. Also, separable contacts are disposed within the housing in cooperation with the operating mechanism for being opened by the operating mechanism. There is a housing handle interconnected with the operating mechanism for being translated along a line of handle translation to the opened, closed, or tripped position of the circuit interrupter, in which case the handle is in either the opened position or the tripped position, and for being closed by the operating mechanism, in which case the housing handle is in the closed position. A terminal is interconnected with the separable contacts for providing an electrical conduction path from a region outside of the housing to the separable contacts. There is a rotary handle mechanism disposed on the housing and interconnected with the handle for placing the handle in the opened position in response to the rotary handle mechanism means being in a first or opened rotational disposition and for placing the handle in the closed position in response to the rotary handle mechanism being in a second or closed rotational disposition. The rotary handle mechanism means including a rotary handle which is rotational on a fixed pivot, and which is mechanically interconnected with the circuit breaker handle, wherein the fixed pivot is offset from the line of handle translation. The rotary handle is disposed to depict electrical current blockage when the handle is in the opened position, wherein the rotary handle is disposed generally perpendicular to the line of handle translation when the handle is in the opened position. The rotary handle is disposed to depict electrical current flow when the handle is in the closed position, wherein the rotary handle is disposed generally parallel to the line of handle translation when the handle is in said closed position. The said rotary handle has a length which causes the rotary handle to extend across the line of handle translation. The rotary handle has an opening there in, in which a plurality of lock hasps are disposed. Wherein the number of the lock hasp which are disposable therein is larger than if the pivot lied along the line of handle translation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2368083 (1945-01-01), Adam
patent: 3171908 (1965-03-01), Malota
patent: 5219070 (1993-06-01), Grunert et al.
Beck H. Richard
Bogdon Erik R.
DeGrazia Dean B.
Funk Gary R.
Donovan Lincoln
Eaton Corporation
Moran Martin J.
Nguyen Tuyen T.
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