Multi-unit circuit breaker jumper assembly

Details Multi-unit circuit breaker jumper assembly Multi-unit circuit breaker jumper assembly

2002-02-04

2002-12-10

Bradley, P. Austin (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Jumper

C439S715000, C439S724000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06491544

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a jumper assembly used in conjunction with three or more circuit breakers, more specifically to a jumper assembly that can be mechanically and electrically coupled to another jumper assembly.
2. Background Information
A jumper assembly is a device for dividing a current from a power line so that the current may be directed to two or more circuit breakers. The jumper assembly includes a non-conductive housing and two conductive buses. The current is divided by coupling the power line to a single input point, typically a collar assembly, on a bus having two or more output terminals. The output terminals are then coupled to two different circuits, each of which has its own circuit breaker. The circuit breakers on the different circuits typically have different ratings. At typical jumper assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,384.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the prior art jumper included a first bus bar, a second bus bar and a non-conductive housing. Each bus bar has a collar that is structured to be coupled to a power line. Each bus bar has two output terminals. The first bus bar is disposed on the upper side of a horizontal wall within the housing. The second bus bar is located on the lower side of the horizontal wall.
Prior art jumper assemblies have the collar(s) for a first bus located on the opposite side of the jumper assembly from the collar(s) for the second bus assemblies. Thus, the prior art jumper assembly cannot be connected to an adjacent second jumper assembly without having at least one power line extend across the buses or without having one power line extending outside of the housing. This is a disadvantage as two immediately adjacent jumper assemblies cannot be linked together.
There is, therefore, a need for a jumper assembly that is structured to be linked to an adjacent jumper assembly.
There is a further need for a jumper assembly that can be both mechanically and electrically coupled to another jumper assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These needs and others are met by the disclosed invention which provides a jumper assembly having a housing assembly and a plurality of bus assemblies. Each bus assembly has a planar member and one or more collar assemblies. The housing assembly has a plurality of upper raceways and one or more raceways provide access to each bus assembly collar. The raceways associated with different bus assemblies are separate from each other. The upper raceways having openings on the left and right sides of the housing assembly. The housing assembly has a connector means on at least one of the left and right sides, the connector means structured to be coupled to another jumper assembly. The connector means allows the jumper assembly to be structurally coupled to another jumper assembly. Additionally, jumper straps may be disposed in the upper raceways and electrically couple the jumper assembly to another jumper assembly.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2610996 (1952-09-01), Rickabaugh
patent: 2733422 (1956-01-01), Obszarny
patent: 2787773 (1957-04-01), Potter
patent: 3076952 (1963-02-01), Powell
patent: 3848958 (1974-11-01), Kern
patent: 3909097 (1975-09-01), Roth et al.
patent: 3941443 (1976-03-01), Reimer
patent: 4021093 (1977-05-01), Glaesel
patent: 4722701 (1988-02-01), Bradt
patent: 4785378 (1988-11-01), Hinckley et al.
patent: 4872855 (1989-10-01), Norden
patent: 5064384 (1991-11-01), Weaver
patent: 5326285 (1994-07-01), Maros
patent: 5839922 (1998-11-01), Orlando et al.
patent: 6036542 (2000-03-01), Montaque et al.
patent: 6036554 (2000-03-01), Koeda et al.
OEM, “Commercial and Industrial Circuit Breakers for OEM Applications,” pp. 1-16, Square D Groupe Schneider (1998), USA.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Multi-unit circuit breaker jumper assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Multi-unit circuit breaker jumper assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multi-unit circuit breaker jumper assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2937363