Patent US3773708A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3970976A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3970976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit breaker with center trip position
Assignee: Mallinckrodt Chemical Inc
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Filing: 1975-04-04
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Granted: 1976-07-20
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Expires: 1995-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A circuit breaker comprising a case and a stationary contact mounted within said case. A movable contact is movable into and out of engagement with the stationary contact. An operator is pivotally mounted within said case and a collapsible linkage interconnects the said operator and the movable contact. An electromagnetic sensing device collapses the collapsible linkage upon predetermined electrical overloads to move the contacts from the contacts "closed" position to the contacts "open" position. The collapsible linkage carries a restraining means for restraining the operator in a position intermediate the "open" and "closed" positions of the contacts.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Nicol
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/50; H01H71/501
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A circuit breaker comprising a case, a stationary contact mounted within said case, a movable contact within said case and movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, a collapsible and automatically resettable mechanism for manually opening and closing said contacts and for electrically tripping "open" said contacts on predetermined conditions comprising an operator pivotally mounted within said case, a collapsible and automatically relatchable linkage for interconnecting said operator and said movable contact, and means for collapsing said collapsible and automatically relatchable linkage upon predetermined electrical overloads to move said contacts from the contacts "closed" position to the contacts "open" position, restraining means movable as part of said mechanism upon electrical tripping "open" of said contacts to a position for restraining said operator in a position intermediate the "open" and "closed" positions of said operator to defeat said collapsible and automatically relatchable linkage, whereby said operator is maintained in a position intermediate the "open" and "closed" positions of said contacts upon electrical tripping of said contacts and said collapsible and automatically relatchable linkage is prevented from automatically relatching until the restraint is removed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A circuit breaker comprising a case, a stationary contact mounted within said case, a movable contact within said case and movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, a collapsible and automatically resettable mechanism for manually opening and closing said contacts and for electrically tripping "open" said contacts on predetermined conditions comprising an operator pivotally mounted within said case, a collapsible and automatically relatchable linkage for interconnecting said operator and said movable contact, and means for collapsing said collapsible and automatically relatchable linkage upon predetermined electrical overloads to move said contacts from the contacts "closed" position to the contacts "open" position, restraining means movable as part of said mechanism upon electrical tripping "open" of said contacts to a position for restraining said operator in a position intermediate the "open" and "closed" positions of said operator to defeat said collapsible and automatically relatchable linkage, whereby said operator is maintained in a position intermediate the "open" and "closed" positions of said contacts upon electrical tripping of said contacts and said collapsible and automatically relatchable linkage is prevented from automatically relatching until the restraint is removed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
166 words
A circuit breaker comprising a case, a stationary contact mounted within said case, a movable contact within said case and movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, a mechanism for manually opening and closing said contacts and for electrically tripping "open" said contacts on predetermined conditions comprising an operator pivotally mounted with said case, a collapsible linkage for interconnecting said operator and said movable contact, means for collapsing said collapsible linkage upon predetermined electrical overloads to move said contacts from the contacts "closed" position to the contacts "open" position, and restraining means movable as part of said mechanism upon electrical tripping "open" of said contacts to a position for restraining said operator in a position intermediate the "open" and "closed" positions of said operator, a movable arm carrying said movable contact, said movable arm having a portion engaged by said operator to restrain movement of said operator in a position intermediate the contacts "on" and "off" positions upon electrical tripping of said contacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
A circuit breaker comprising a case, a stationary contact mounted within said case, a movable contact within said case and movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, a mechanism for manually opening and closing said contacts and for electrically tripping "open" said contacts on predetermined conditions comprising an operator pivotally mounted with said case, a collapsible linkage for interconnecting said operator and said movable contact, means for collapsing said collapsible linkage upon predetermined electrical overloads to move said contacts from the contacts "closed" position to the contacts "open" position, and restraining means movable as part of said mechanism upon electrical tripping "open" of said contacts to a position for restraining said operator in a position intermediate the "open" and "closed" positions of said operator, a movable arm carrying said movable contact, said movable arm having a portion engaged by said operator to restrain movement of said operator in a position intermediate the contacts "on" and "off" positions upon electrical tripping of said contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein said movable arm includes a projection which extends toward said operator, said operator includes a portion engaged by said projection to restrain said operator in a position intermediate the contacts "on" and "off" positions subseqent to electrical tripping.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure of claim 3 which further includes a pin which pivotally connects said operator to said collapsible linkage, said projection on said movable arm is cam-like to receive an end portion of said pin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
170 words
A circuit breaker comprising a case, a stationary contact mounted within said case, a movable contact within said case and movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, a mechanism for manually opening and closing said contacts and for electrically tripping "open" said contacts on predetermined conditions comprising an operator pivotally mounted within said case, a collapsible linkage for interconnecting said operator and said movable contact, means for collapsing said collapsible linkage upon predetermined electrical overloads to move said contacts from the contacts "closed" position to the contacts "open" position, and restraining means movable as part of said mechanism upon electrical tripping "open" of said contacts to a position for restraining said operator in a position intermediate the "open" and "closed" positions of said operator, said means for collapsing said collapsible linkage including an armature, said armature having a portion engaged by said operator to restrain movement of said operator in a position intermediate the contacts "off" and the contacts "on" positions upon electrical tripping of said contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
170 words
A circuit breaker comprising a case, a stationary contact mounted within said case, a movable contact within said case and movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, a mechanism for manually opening and closing said contacts and for electrically tripping "open" said contacts on predetermined conditions comprising an operator pivotally mounted within said case, a collapsible linkage for interconnecting said operator and said movable contact, means for collapsing said collapsible linkage upon predetermined electrical overloads to move said contacts from the contacts "closed" position to the contacts "open" position, and restraining means movable as part of said mechanism upon electrical tripping "open" of said contacts to a position for restraining said operator in a position intermediate the "open" and "closed" positions of said operator, said means for collapsing said collapsible linkage including an armature, said armature having a portion engaged by said operator to restrain movement of said operator in a position intermediate the contacts "off" and the contacts "on" positions upon electrical tripping of said contacts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structure of claim 5 wherein said armature includes a spring member which extends toward said operator, said operator includes a portion engaged by said spring member to restrain said operator in a position intermediate the contacts "on" and "off" positions subsequent to electrical tripping.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure of claim 6 which further includes a pin which pivotally connects said operator to said collapsible linkage, said spring member is cam-like to receive an end portion of said pin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
172 words
A circuit breaker comprising a case, a stationary contact mounted within said case, a movable contact within said case and movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, and an automatically resettable mechanism for manually opening and closing said contacts and for electrically tripping "open" said contacts on predetermined conditions comprising an operator pivotally mounted within said case, an automatically relatchable linkage for interconnecting said operator and said movable contact, and means for moving said linkage upon predetermined electrical overloads from the contacts "closed" position to the contacts "open" position, and restraining means movable upon electrical tripping "open" of said contacts from a position out of restraining engagement with said operator to a position in restraining engagement with said operator to defeat said automatically relatchable linkage, whereby said operator is maintained in a position intermediate the "open" and "closed" positions of said contacts upon electrical tripping of said contacts and said relatchable linkage is prevented from automatically relatching until said restraining means is manually moved out of said restraining engagement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
172 words
A circuit breaker comprising a case, a stationary contact mounted within said case, a movable contact within said case and movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, and an automatically resettable mechanism for manually opening and closing said contacts and for electrically tripping "open" said contacts on predetermined conditions comprising an operator pivotally mounted within said case, an automatically relatchable linkage for interconnecting said operator and said movable contact, and means for moving said linkage upon predetermined electrical overloads from the contacts "closed" position to the contacts "open" position, and restraining means movable upon electrical tripping "open" of said contacts from a position out of restraining engagement with said operator to a position in restraining engagement with said operator to defeat said automatically relatchable linkage, whereby said operator is maintained in a position intermediate the "open" and "closed" positions of said contacts upon electrical tripping of said contacts and said relatchable linkage is prevented from automatically relatching until said restraining means is manually moved out of said restraining engagement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-20 | 1980-01-19 | 1980-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-20 | 1984-01-19 | 1984-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-20 | 1988-01-19 | 1988-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |