Electricity: magnetically operated switches – magnets – and electr – Electromagnetically actuated switches – Automatic circuit-interrupting devices
Patent
1997-12-10
1999-02-16
Donovan, Lincoln
Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr
Electromagnetically actuated switches
Automatic circuit-interrupting devices
335 22, 337 75, H01H 7512
Patent
active
058724958
ABSTRACT:
A thermal and magnetic trip unit for a multi-pole circuit breaker includes a thermal structure having a bimetallic element and one or more heater elements. Each of the heater elements and a portion of the bimetallic element is generally "U" shaped defining a conductive path which extends from one leg of the U to the other leg. The heater elements and bimetallic element may be configured in parallel to reduce the level of current flowing through the bimetallic element and thus increase the current level at which the bimetallic element will trip the breaker. Alternatively, the heater elements may be configured in series with the bimetallic element, by inserting electrical insulators between the bimetallic element and each of the heater elements and connecting the various "U" shaped elements using a connecting bus which connects the second leg of one element to the first leg of the next element. In this configuration, the thermal structure defines a coil having one turns for each heater element and the bimetallic element. This coil may be used to implement a magnetic trip structure by inserting one or two magnetically permeable yokes, each yoke surrounding one leg of the combined thermal structure. An armature is positioned to be separated from the yoke by a gap such that, when the armature is pulled toward the yoke, it will engage the trip unit. In addition, the trip unit includes a calibration and adjustment bar that allows the gap to be adjusted as well as the force exerted on the armature by a biasing spring. The calibration and adjustment bar also allows each pole of the circuit breaker to be independently calibrated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1971205 (1934-08-01), Walle
patent: 2140362 (1938-12-01), Kintzing
patent: 2821595 (1958-01-01), Deans
patent: 3200217 (1965-08-01), Bullis, Jr.
patent: 3217125 (1965-11-01), Brackett
patent: 3720891 (1973-03-01), Nicol
patent: 3836691 (1974-09-01), Wolfe
patent: 3864649 (1975-02-01), Doyle
patent: 4047134 (1977-09-01), Maier et al.
patent: 4066990 (1978-01-01), Cstuor
patent: 4187482 (1980-02-01), Kosup
patent: 4220935 (1980-09-01), Wafer et al.
patent: 4468645 (1984-08-01), Gerbert-Gaillard et al.
patent: 4503408 (1985-03-01), Mrenna et al.
patent: 4516098 (1985-05-01), Krasser et al.
patent: 4528531 (1985-07-01), Flick et al.
patent: 4603312 (1986-07-01), Conner
patent: 4630019 (1986-12-01), Maier et al.
patent: 4675635 (1987-06-01), DiMarco et al.
patent: 4691182 (1987-09-01), Mrenna et al.
patent: 4706054 (1987-11-01), Hampton et al.
patent: 4733033 (1988-03-01), Morris et al.
patent: 4890081 (1989-12-01), McKee et al.
patent: 4922220 (1990-05-01), Livesey et al.
patent: 4958136 (1990-09-01), Maier et al.
patent: 4973928 (1990-11-01), Grunert
patent: 5231365 (1993-07-01), Kato
patent: 5237297 (1993-08-01), Ellington et al.
patent: 5381120 (1995-01-01), Arnold et al.
patent: 5432491 (1995-07-01), Peter et al.
patent: 5539167 (1996-07-01), Hood et al.
patent: 5608367 (1997-03-01), Zoller et al.
Black Robert E.
DiMarco Bernard
Ferree James E.
Donovan Lincoln
Siemens Energy & Automation Inc.
LandOfFree
Variable thermal and magnetic structure for a circuitbreaker tri does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Variable thermal and magnetic structure for a circuitbreaker tri, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Variable thermal and magnetic structure for a circuitbreaker tri will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2065636