[0001] The invention relates to circuit breakers and to adapters for circuit breakers, more
particularly, although not exclusively, to miniature circuit breakers (m.c.b's).
[0002] Standard m.c.b's at the present have screw terminals for both the incoming and outgoing
electrical connections. However, load centres and consumer units, for example as disclosed
in European Patent no. 0,325,370, have provisions for m.c.b's to plug onto bus bars
to provide the incoming electrical connection thereto.
[0003] United Kingdom patent application no. 2301940A discloses a simple and inexpensive
adapter for converting standard m.c.b'.s for plug on or plug in usage.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide such an adapter which has an
improved location and support arrangement and is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
[0005] According to the invention there is provided an adapter for a circuit breaker which
comprises an electrically conductive member formed to be attachable to a circuit breaker,
having a portion to be clamped and electrically connectable within a cable entry of
the circuit breaker, a downwardly dependable connector portion and an upwardly dependable
support portion for engagement with the circuit breaker casing, in use.
[0006] Preferably the adapter is formed from a blank of electrically conductive material.
The blank may comprise generally sheet-form member having a central body portion with
an upwardly depending portion which is bent upwardly to lie in a plane normal to the
plane of the body portion to form said clampable portion and a pair of wing portions
extending upwardly and downwardly from opposed sides of the body portion and bent
downwardly to lie coplanar in planes normal to the plane of the body portion, the
downwardly extending wing portion being further arcuately bent to form clip connector
portions and the upwardly extending wing portions forming said support portion.
[0007] The upward extremities of the upwardly extending wing portions may each be formed
with a nose portion for engagement with the circuit breaker casing, in use.
[0008] The adapter may be provided in combination with an electrically insulative cover
member engagable with the opposed sides of the circuit breaker to cover the adapter
and cable entry at the edge of the circuit breaker, in use from.
[0009] The foregoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood
from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, by way example,
with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-
Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a blank for forming an adapter;
Fig.2 shows a front elevational view of an adapter formed from the blank of Fig.1;
Fig.3 shows a side elevational view of the adapter of Fig.2;
Fig.4 shows a plan view of the adapter of Figs 2 and 3, and
Fig.5 is an exploded perspective view of an adapter of Figs 1 to 4 on reduced scale
for attachment to a circuit breaker.
[0010] Referring now to Fig.1 of the drawing there is shown a blank 10 for a circuit breaker
adapter. The blank 10 comprises a generally sheet - form member with a central body
portion 11, an upwardly extending portion 12 and two wing portions 13 extending upwardly
and downwardly from opposed sides of the body portion 11.
[0011] Referring now also to Figs 2,3 and 4 of the drawings portion 12 of the blank is bent
upwardly from body portion 11 to lie in a plane normal to the plane of body portion
11.
[0012] The two wing portions 13 are bent downwardly from body portion 11 to lie in coplanar
relationship normal to the plane of body portion 11. The upper arms 13a of wing 13
are each formed with a nose portion 13b extending in the direction of portion 12.
[0013] The lower leg portions 13c of wings 13 are bent in arcuate fashion adjacent extremities
13d to provide plug on contacts.
[0014] Referring now to Fig.5 of the drawing there is shown an exploded perspective view
of an m.c.b. 14, an adapter and an electrically insulative cover 15. The adapter is
located with portion 12 inserted into the cable entry of m.c.b. 14 with arms 13a and
nose portion 13b abutting the edge of m.c.b. 14 and legs portions 13c depending downwardly
therefrom. The cover 15 is located over the edge of m.c.b. 14 to cover the adapter
and cable entry.
[0015] The provision of the arm and nose portions 13a, 13b provide a more rigid connection
of the adapter to an m.c.b. and formation of the adapter from a blank provides a simple
and inexpensive form of manufacture.
1. An adapter for a circuit breaker which comprises an electrically conductive member
formed to be attachable to a circuit breaker, having a portion to be clamped and electrically
connectable within a cable entry of the circuit breaker, a downwardly dependable connector
portion and an upwardly dependable support portion for engagement with the circuit
breaker casing, in use.
2. An adapter as claimed in claim 1 formed from a blank of electrically conductive material.
3. An adapter as claimed in claim 2 wherein said blank comprises a generally sheet-form
member having a central body portion with an upwardly depending portion which is bent
upwardly to lie in a plane normal to the plane of the body portion to form said clampable
portion and a pair of wing portions extending upwardly and downwardly from opposed
sides of the body portion and bent downwardly to lie coplanar in planes normal to
the plane of the body portion, the downwardly extending wing portion being further
arcuately bent to form clip connector portions and the upwardly extending wing portions
forming said support portion.
4. An adapter as claimed in claim 3 wherein the upward extremities of the upwardly extending
wing portions are each formed with a nose portion for engagement with the circuit
breaker casing, in use.
5. An adapter as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with an electrically insulative
cover member engagable with the opposed sides of the circuit breaker to cover the
adapter and cable entry at the edge of the circuit breaker, in use.
6. An adapter for a circuit breaker substantially as herein before described with reference
to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawing.
7. A circuit breaker, adapter and cover substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawing.